La serva padrona
In the first part of XVIII century a common practice in Italian theaters was to incorporate a small comic opera that would be presented during the intermissions of a serious opera that was on the show for the night. Contrary to the complicated stories of intrigue, honor and duty that was characteristic for opera seria, in these small chamber operas called intermezzi the plot was more of a mundane nature. In fact, more of a parody. Likewise, the performers were not great operatic stars but able singers with an extraordinary acting skills.
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736) was a young talented composer residing in Napels around 1730s. He was an aspiring composer of opera seria, but as the fate has intended, today he is chiefly known by two of his master pieces from a different genre - Stabat Mater motet and La serva padrona intermezzo. The first performance of La serva padrona (The Maid Mistress) was on August 28th in Naples in Teatre san Bartolomeo as a comic interlude to his big opera seria Il prigionier superbo. The fate was not merciful to the poor Prigioniere that died in oblivion of the wider audience. However, the success of La serva padrona was nothing more of spectacular. Immediately after the premiere, it was transported even to the most reclusive parts of Europe. The work itself has seen many alterations, additions and translations in the process. This was achieved by the busy performing activities of many traveling theater troupes of the age. In France in particular, presentations of LSP in the season 1752/3. have started a ferocious dispute in the intellectual circles know as the Querelle des Bouffons. The cultural elite of the time heralded Pergolesi as the compopser whose music demonstrated the best the aestetic supremacy of Italian opera tradition to the French one that was represented mostly in the Works of C.W. Gluck.
Since its premiere, La serva padrona is a rare example of a music that has survived on the operatic stage for almost three centuries, the fact that certainly speaks about the timeless subject set into music with a skill of a real genius.
The original story evolves around a wealthy bachelor Uberto who has had enough of his maid Serpina. He decides he has had enough of her insolent behavior and decides to get marry. Serpina is not willing to accept this and knowing her padrone well, decides that the best thing for all of them would be if Uberto was to marry her. Although Uberto is fond of Serpina more than he is willing to admit to himself, he refuses the proposed matrimony. With careful scheming and help with another servant Vespone, Serpina is able to bring the story to the end in her own terms.
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736) was a young talented composer residing in Napels around 1730s. He was an aspiring composer of opera seria, but as the fate has intended, today he is chiefly known by two of his master pieces from a different genre - Stabat Mater motet and La serva padrona intermezzo. The first performance of La serva padrona (The Maid Mistress) was on August 28th in Naples in Teatre san Bartolomeo as a comic interlude to his big opera seria Il prigionier superbo. The fate was not merciful to the poor Prigioniere that died in oblivion of the wider audience. However, the success of La serva padrona was nothing more of spectacular. Immediately after the premiere, it was transported even to the most reclusive parts of Europe. The work itself has seen many alterations, additions and translations in the process. This was achieved by the busy performing activities of many traveling theater troupes of the age. In France in particular, presentations of LSP in the season 1752/3. have started a ferocious dispute in the intellectual circles know as the Querelle des Bouffons. The cultural elite of the time heralded Pergolesi as the compopser whose music demonstrated the best the aestetic supremacy of Italian opera tradition to the French one that was represented mostly in the Works of C.W. Gluck.
Since its premiere, La serva padrona is a rare example of a music that has survived on the operatic stage for almost three centuries, the fact that certainly speaks about the timeless subject set into music with a skill of a real genius.
The original story evolves around a wealthy bachelor Uberto who has had enough of his maid Serpina. He decides he has had enough of her insolent behavior and decides to get marry. Serpina is not willing to accept this and knowing her padrone well, decides that the best thing for all of them would be if Uberto was to marry her. Although Uberto is fond of Serpina more than he is willing to admit to himself, he refuses the proposed matrimony. With careful scheming and help with another servant Vespone, Serpina is able to bring the story to the end in her own terms.
Our conceptTime Setting: Present day
Place: Office at LSP International Characters: Uberto, Serpina & Vespone, all working at LSP Story: Just another regular day at the office. Uberto (the boss) is annoyed because Serpina still hasn't brought him his cup of hot chocolate. In fact, he has really had enough of her presumptuous behavior. She acts almost as she were the one in charge. Almost like she is his own wife! So he decides that the only way he can restrain her is to actually get marry. Serpina however, has a totally different point of view. She is a bit frustrated because she thinks that Uberto doesn't see nor appreciate everything she does for him. And of course, her salary is nothing compared to all her duties. After all, she is his personal assistant, but does that really mean she even has to make his hot chocolate every day? Serpina is not at all surprised when Uberto declares he wants to get marry. Well, that would be the only sensible thing to do since she is already running all his errands just as she were his wife. Of course, she knows he needs a bit of persuasion in order to see for himself that marrying her would be the best solution. The third office member Vespone, got himself involved in Serpina's intrigues quite involuntary. At first. After Serpina promises him money and lavishing benefits, he decides to go along with the plan. In his opinion, he is not well paid or appreciated for all the work he does at the office, so why not use the opportunity to make his position a bit better? And if the scheme fails, at least they will all have a good laugh.
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