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La serva padrona

January 01, 1970

La serva padrona, or The Maid Turned Mistress, is a 1733 intermezzo by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710–1736) to a libretto by Gennaro Federico, after the play by Jacopo Angello Nelli. It is some 40 minutes long, in two parts without overture, and was written as light-hearted staged entertainment between the acts of Pergolesi's serious opera Il prigionier superbo. More specifically each of the two parts, set in the same dressing room, played during an intermission of the three-act opera to amuse people who remained in their seats.

La serva padrona
Opera buffa by G. B. Pergolesi
Title page of a vintage opera program
DescriptionIntermezzo
TranslationThe Maid Turned Mistress
LibrettistGennaro Federico
LanguageItalian
Based onLa serva padrona
by Jacopo Angello Nelli
Premiere
5 September 1733 (1733-09-05)
Teatro San Bartolomeo, Naples

Federico's libretto was also set by Giovanni Paisiello, in 1781.

Performance history edit

La serva padrona and the opera seria it punctuates were premiered at the Teatro San Bartolomeo on 6 September 1733, the first performances there after an earthquake the previous year in Naples had closed all theatres. Both were written for the birthday of Holy Roman Empress Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel a few days earlier.[1]

Il prigioniero superbo was unsuccessful in its day[2] but has been staged in the composer's home town of Jesi several times and recorded there in 1997, 1998 and 2009, being filmed during the latter year. But La serva padrona was an immediate hit and became its own stand-alone work. Audiences found it appealing for its relatable characters: wily maid versus aging master. More significantly it became a model for the opera buffa genre and a quintessential piece bridging the Baroque and the Classical periods. With a new finale its French version provided the catalyst for the infamous Querelle des Bouffons.

Roles edit

Role Voice type Premiere cast[3]
5 September 1733
Uberto, an old man buffo bass Gioacchino Corrado
Serpina, his maid soprano Laura Monti
Vespone, his servant silent actor

Synopsis edit

 
Catherine Nelidova as Serpina (by Dmitry Levitzky, 1773)

Part 1 – dressing room

Uberto, an elderly bachelor, is angry and impatient with his maidservant, Serpina, because she has not brought him his chocolate today. Serpina has become so arrogant that she thinks she is the mistress of the household. Indeed, when Uberto calls for his hat, wig and coat, Serpina forbids him to leave the house, adding that from then on he will have to obey her orders. Uberto thereupon orders Vespone to find him a woman to marry so that he can rid himself of Serpina.

Part 2 – same dressing room

Serpina convinces Vespone to trick Uberto into marrying her. She informs Uberto that she is to marry a military man named Tempesta. She will be leaving his home and apologizes for her behavior. Vespone, disguised as Tempesta, arrives and, without saying a word, demands 4,000 crowns for a dowry. Uberto refuses to pay such a sum. Tempesta threatens him to either pay the dowry or marry the girl himself. Uberto agrees to marry Serpina. Serpina and Vespone reveal their trick; but Uberto realizes that he has loved the girl all along. They will marry after all; and Serpina will now be the true mistress of the household.

Musical numbers edit

Part 1
  • Aria: Aspettare e non venire (Uberto)
  • Recitativo: Quest'è per me disgrazia (Uberto, Serpina)
  • Aria: Sempre in contrasti (Uberto)
  • Recitativo: In somma delle somme (Serpina, Uberto)
  • Aria: Stizzoso, mio stizzoso (Serpina)
  • Recitativo: Benissimo. Hai tu inteso? (Uberto, Serpina)
  • Duetto: Lo conosco a quegli occhietti (Serpina, Uberto)
Part 2
  • Recitativo: Or che fatto ti sei (Serpina, Uberto)
  • Aria: A Serpina penserete (Serpina)
  • Recitativo: Ah! quanto mi sa male (Uberto, Serpina)
  • Aria: Son imbrogliato io già (Uberto)
  • Recitativo: Favorisca, signor, passi (Serpina, Uberto)
  • Duetto finale (†): Contento tu sarai (Serpina, Uberto)

(†It later became customary to replace this final duet with another: Per te ho io nel core. This the composer wrote two years later, in 1735, for his commedia per musica, Il Flaminio.)

Scores edit

The scores of the opera vary. Edwin F. Kalmus has one with massive omissions, wrong notes, and much spoken dialogue. Boosey & Hawkes has the score in an operetta adaptation by Seymour Barab, with highly simplified accompaniment and much spoken dialogue. Casa Ricordi presents the opera as sung through; it is the version most used. W. W. Norton & Company includes excerpts of the full score (for strings and continuo) that have numerous melodic differences from the Ricordi edition but correlate with the recording with Siegmund Nimsgern.[4]

Recordings and films edit

References edit

Notes

  1. ^ "Prigioniero superbo, Il" by Dale E. Monson, Grove Music Online
  2. ^ Grout and Williams (2003), p. 232
  3. ^ Casaglia, Gherardo (2005). "La serva padrona, 5 September 1733". L'Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia (in Italian).
  4. ^ Palisca, pp. 1–15
  5. ^ Program listing, ABV Channel 2, listed at 8:30, in the 1 November 1962 edition of The Age, via Google News Archive

Sources

  • Grout, Donald Jay and Hermine Weigel Williams (2003), A Short History of Opera, Columbia University Press, pp. 229–232. ISBN 0-231-11958-5
  • Palisca, Claude V. Norton Anthology of Western Music: Volume 2: Classic to Modern. New York: W. W. Norton, 2001 ISBN 0-393-97691-2
  • Warrack, John and Ewan West (1992) The Oxford Dictionary of Opera. ISBN 0-19-869164-5

External links edit

Librettos edit

  • Federico, Gennaro Antonio (1739). La serva padrona. Intermezzo per musica da rappresentarsi nel teatro formagliari il Novembre 1739. Bologna: Bayerische StaatsBibliothek digital. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  • Federico, Gennarantonio. "La Serva Padrona. Intermezzo in due parti". www.librettidopera.it. Retrieved 13 January 2013.

Scores edit

January 01, 1970
serva, padrona, maid, turned, mistress, 1733, intermezzo, giovanni, battista, pergolesi, 1710, 1736, libretto, gennaro, federico, after, play, jacopo, angello, nelli, some, minutes, long, parts, without, overture, written, light, hearted, staged, entertainment. La serva padrona or The Maid Turned Mistress is a 1733 intermezzo by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi 1710 1736 to a libretto by Gennaro Federico after the play by Jacopo Angello Nelli It is some 40 minutes long in two parts without overture and was written as light hearted staged entertainment between the acts of Pergolesi s serious opera Il prigionier superbo More specifically each of the two parts set in the same dressing room played during an intermission of the three act opera to amuse people who remained in their seats La serva padronaOpera buffa by G B PergolesiTitle page of a vintage opera programDescriptionIntermezzoTranslationThe Maid Turned MistressLibrettistGennaro FedericoLanguageItalianBased onLa serva padronaby Jacopo Angello NelliPremiere5 September 1733 1733 09 05 Teatro San Bartolomeo Naples Federico s libretto was also set by Giovanni Paisiello in 1781 Contents 1 Performance history 2 Roles 3 Synopsis 4 Musical numbers 5 Scores 6 Recordings and films 7 References 8 External links 8 1 Librettos 8 2 ScoresPerformance history editLa serva padrona and the opera seria it punctuates were premiered at the Teatro San Bartolomeo on 6 September 1733 the first performances there after an earthquake the previous year in Naples had closed all theatres Both were written for the birthday of Holy Roman Empress Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick Wolfenbuttel a few days earlier 1 Il prigioniero superbo was unsuccessful in its day 2 but has been staged in the composer s home town of Jesi several times and recorded there in 1997 1998 and 2009 being filmed during the latter year But La serva padrona was an immediate hit and became its own stand alone work Audiences found it appealing for its relatable characters wily maid versus aging master More significantly it became a model for the opera buffa genre and a quintessential piece bridging the Baroque and the Classical periods With a new finale its French version provided the catalyst for the infamous Querelle des Bouffons Roles editRole Voice type Premiere cast 3 5 September 1733 Uberto an old man buffo bass Gioacchino Corrado Serpina his maid soprano Laura Monti Vespone his servant silent actorSynopsis edit nbsp Catherine Nelidova as Serpina by Dmitry Levitzky 1773 Part 1 dressing roomUberto an elderly bachelor is angry and impatient with his maidservant Serpina because she has not brought him his chocolate today Serpina has become so arrogant that she thinks she is the mistress of the household Indeed when Uberto calls for his hat wig and coat Serpina forbids him to leave the house adding that from then on he will have to obey her orders Uberto thereupon orders Vespone to find him a woman to marry so that he can rid himself of Serpina Part 2 same dressing roomSerpina convinces Vespone to trick Uberto into marrying her She informs Uberto that she is to marry a military man named Tempesta She will be leaving his home and apologizes for her behavior Vespone disguised as Tempesta arrives and without saying a word demands 4 000 crowns for a dowry Uberto refuses to pay such a sum Tempesta threatens him to either pay the dowry or marry the girl himself Uberto agrees to marry Serpina Serpina and Vespone reveal their trick but Uberto realizes that he has loved the girl all along They will marry after all and Serpina will now be the true mistress of the household Musical numbers editPart 1 Aria Aspettare e non venire Uberto Recitativo Quest e per me disgrazia Uberto Serpina Aria Sempre in contrasti Uberto Recitativo In somma delle somme Serpina Uberto Aria Stizzoso mio stizzoso Serpina Recitativo Benissimo Hai tu inteso Uberto Serpina Duetto Lo conosco a quegli occhietti Serpina Uberto Part 2 Recitativo Or che fatto ti sei Serpina Uberto Aria A Serpina penserete Serpina Recitativo Ah quanto mi sa male Uberto Serpina Aria Son imbrogliato io gia Uberto Recitativo Favorisca signor passi Serpina Uberto Duetto finale Contento tu sarai Serpina Uberto It later became customary to replace this final duet with another Per te ho io nel core This the composer wrote two years later in 1735 for his commedia per musica Il Flaminio Scores editThe scores of the opera vary Edwin F Kalmus has one with massive omissions wrong notes and much spoken dialogue Boosey amp Hawkes has the score in an operetta adaptation by Seymour Barab with highly simplified accompaniment and much spoken dialogue Casa Ricordi presents the opera as sung through it is the version most used W W Norton amp Company includes excerpts of the full score for strings and continuo that have numerous melodic differences from the Ricordi edition but correlate with the recording with Siegmund Nimsgern 4 Recordings and films editSimonetto Tuccari Sesto Bruscantini live in Capri 1948 Cetra Pedrollo Erato Bacci 1949 Polydor Vox Carlo Maria Giulini Carteri Nicola Rossi Lemeni 1955 Columbia Ferdinand Leitner Mazzoleni Cortis 1955 Archiv Serra G Colorni Rovetta 1956 RCA FILM Ferrara Anna Moffo Paolo Montarsolo 1958 Mario Lanfranchi movie View Video label Virginia Zeani opposite her husband Rossi Lemeni conducted by Singer 1959 Vox Renata Scotto and Bruscantini conducted by Fasano 1960 Ricordi Mariella Adani and Leonardi Monreale Pomeriggi Musicali del Teatro Nuovo di Milano Ettore Gracis conducting 1960 Club Francais du Disque later Nonesuch Records H 71043 Bugeanu Petrescu Cironeanu Rintzler 1961 Electrecord FILM Australian TV movie with June Bronhill 1962 5 lt Maier Bonifaccio Siegmund Nimsgern and the Collegium Aureum 1969 BASF later Deutsche Harmonia Mundi Koch H Miljakovic Suss 1970 Telefunken Ros Marba Carmen Bustamante Renato Capecchi 1973 Ensayo Alberto Zedda Celine Bruscantini 1974 Vedette Quadrifoglio Gordana Minov Jevtovic and Nikola Mitic 1976 PGP RTB Nemeth Katalin Farkas Jozsef Gregor and the Capella Savaria 1985 Hungaroton FILM Sigiswald Kuijken Patricia Biccire Donato di Stefano and La Petite Bande live in Brussels 1986 Accent ACC 96123 D and TDK DVD Released on DVD in 1998 Palmer R Julianne Baird John Ostendorf 1989 Omega Hirsch Bima Salomaa live in Waldkirch 1990 Arts label Mason Bunning Donnelly 1992 Meridian Records Bezzina Isabelle Poulenard Cantor 1995 Pierre Verany FILM Magnani Sylvia Klein Jose Carlos Leal 1997 Carla Camurati movie Elimar Producoes Artisticas Brazil Marcello Panni Scano de Simone live in Jesi 1997 Bongiovanni Gustav Kuhn Antonucci P di Stefano D live in Jesi 1998 Arte Nova Clemente Cozzoli Govi live in Bitonto 1999 Kicco Classics Dallara Zanello Govi 2006 Tactus Records FILM Diego Fasolis Sonya Yoncheva Furio Zanasi 2008 Swiss TV movie Deliso Zyatkova Torriani 2011 Da Vinci FILM Rovaris Marianelli Lepore filmed in Jesi 2011 Arthaus Scogna Nisi Benetti 2013 Tactus Records Scogna Liuzzi di Gioia 2017 Brilliant ClassicsReferences editNotes Prigioniero superbo Il by Dale E Monson Grove Music Online Grout and Williams 2003 p 232 Casaglia Gherardo 2005 La serva padrona 5 September 1733 L Almanacco di Gherardo Casaglia in Italian Palisca pp 1 15 Program listing ABV Channel 2 listed at 8 30 in the 1 November 1962 edition of The Age via Google News Archive Sources Grout Donald Jay and Hermine Weigel Williams 2003 A Short History of Opera Columbia University Press pp 229 232 ISBN 0 231 11958 5 Palisca Claude V Norton Anthology of Western Music Volume 2 Classic to Modern New York W W Norton 2001 ISBN 0 393 97691 2 Warrack John and Ewan West 1992 The Oxford Dictionary of Opera ISBN 0 19 869164 5External links editLibrettos edit Federico Gennaro Antonio 1739 La serva padrona Intermezzo per musica da rappresentarsi nel teatro formagliari il Novembre 1739 Bologna Bayerische StaatsBibliothek digital Retrieved 13 January 2013 Federico Gennarantonio La Serva Padrona Intermezzo in due parti www librettidopera it Retrieved 13 January 2013 Scores edit Pergolesi Giovanni Battista 1757 La serva padrona Intermezzo del Signore Giovanni Battista Pergolese rapresentato in Pariggi nell Autunno 1757 1805 by Auguste Le Duc reprint ed Paris Radicciotti Cherbuliez Retrieved 13 January 2013 at University of North Texas La serva padrona Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Portal nbsp Opera Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title La serva padrona amp oldid 1211882258, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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