Mozart Opera La Finta Giardiniera
Mozart's Opera Buffa (Comic Opera), K196 The Pretended Gardener
May 18, 2007
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Italian opera buffa (comic opera) in three acts La finta giardiniera (The Pretended Gardener), K196. This opera is the first mature comic opera (opera buffa) of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791). He was 18 years old, an astounding achievement for that age.
- Libretto: First version in Italian by Giuseppe Petrosellini. Second version in German Singspiel by Johann Franz Joseph Stierle. Based on libretto by Ranieri de Calzabigi.
- First Performance: Munich, Salvatortheater, January 13, 1775.
- Setting: The Mayor's estate, town of Lagonero in Italy in the mid-18th century.
The Cast of Characters
- Marchioness Violante Onesti disguised as Sandrina (soprano)
- Count Belfiore (tenor)
- Ramiro, a knight (soprano castrato)
- Don Anchise, Mayor of Lagonero (tenor)
- Roberto, Violante's servant disguised as Nardo, her cousin (baritone)
- Serpetta, the Mayor's housekeeper (soprano)
- Arminda, a Milanes lady, the Mayor's niece (soprano)
Basic Plot Summary / Synopsis
Act 1
The characters introduce themselves and their situations. The mayor waits for his niece, Arminda, a noblewoman who is engaged to Count Belfiore. Ramiro loves Arminda who jilts her being in love with Belfiore. The mayor proposes to his gardener, Sandrina, in reality the Marchioness Violante in disguise. Her servant Roberto is also in disguise as her cousin Nardo. Violante (Sandrina) is in search of Belfiore, who in a rage of jealousy, stabbed and deserted her, leaving her for dead. However, she survives. Roberto (Nardo) loves Serpetta, the mayor's maid but Serpetta hopes to marry her master (the Mayor) and rejects Roberto. Arminda threatens harm for any unfaithfulness, referring to Belfiore. Belfiore brags about his ancestors as far back as the heroes of Greece and Rome.
When Arminda tells Sandrina she is marrying Belfiore, Sandrina faints. Belfiore recognizes Sandrina, who denies her identity. Ramiro confronts Arminda. With Roberto concerned, Sandrina upset, Serpetta and Arminda jealous, the mayor is confused by all the commotion.
Act 2
Belfiore is upset. Arminda realizes Belfiore loves Sandrina. Sandrina rebukes him for having deserted her. Nardo courts Serpetta who is jealous of his 'cousin.' Sandrina tells Belfiore she is not the marchioness: that in fact, he killed the marchioness. After learning that Belfiore is wanted for murdering the marchioness, the Mayor breaks off Belfiore's engagement to his niece. Ramiro appears with a warrant of arrest for Belfiore. The mayor confronts Belfiore, who lies unconvincingly. Sandrina saves Belfiore by admitting she is the marchioness and therefore no murder is committed. But when Belfiore privately begs forgiveness, Sandrina tells him she only pretended to be the marchioness to help him. Sandrina runs away and gets lost. Everyone sets out to find her. She found refuge in a cave. They found her. The characters appear in the finale of this act, with Ramiro bringing a light.
Act 3
Everyone returns to town. Arminda is still determined to marry Belfiore and asks her uncle to marry her to him, while Ramiro demands Arminda to marry him. The mayor is confused with the whole situation and wants to be left alone. Eventually, Sandrina and Belfiore recover from their senses and decide never to part. They are reconciled and marry. Ramiro got back Arminda's affection. Serpetta, realizing the Mayor will always have a heart for Sandrina, marry's Nardo.
Other operas written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:
- Die Zauberflöte
- Così fan tutte
- Don Giovanni
- Le nozze di Figaro
- Der Schauspieldirektor
- Die Entführung aus dem Serail
- Idomeneo
- Il rè pastore
- Ascanio in Alba
- Lucio Silla
- Il sogno di Scipione
- La clemenza di Tito
- Mitridate, rè di Ponto
- La finta semplice
- Bastien und Bastienne
Sources:
Mozart and His Operas Edited by Stanley Sadie (2000)
Opera, Editor-in-Chief, András Batta (2000 English Edition)
The Da Capo Opera Manual by Nicholas Ivor Martin (1997)
