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Overview

Synopsis

Considered by many to be the first example of opera buffa, Pergolesi’s short opera La serva padrona (The Servant as Mistress) employs stock characters from commedia dell'arte in a farcical plot.

Uberto has raised the young Serpina as his servant, and now laments her insubordination. She will not listen to his instructions, refuses to do simple things like make him chocolate at dinnertime, and when Uberto tries to go out Serpina prevents him from leaving. They argue constantly about trivial matters. Serpina has something else on her mind, and with the help of the silent servant, Vespone, tricks Uberto into marrying her. In a fashion that will be repeated subsequently in many of the great opera buffa, Uberto inexplicably falls in love with her at that moment and the couple are overjoyed at their engagement.

With a cast of only two singers and one actor, and a running time of around 50 minutes, _La serva padrona _is the perfect show for a small company, or a touring production. The quick comedy in the recitatives is an excellent precursor to any of Mozart’s comic operas, and the simple, heartwarming plot has made La serva padrona much more popular with audiences than the work is was intended to accompany, the more serious Il prigioniero superbo.

Show Information

Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1733
Genres
Comedy, Farce, Romance
Settings
Period, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
18th century
Cast Size
small
Orchestra Size
Small
Dancing
None
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
Chamber Opera, Professional Opera, Small Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Young Adult, Adult Characters

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Uberto

Lead

Male

Bass

Serpina

Lead

Female

Soprano

Vespone

Supporting

Male

Silent

Songs

Intermezzo Primo

Introduzione: ‘Aspettare e non venire’ - Uberto, Vespone

Recitative: ‘Questa e per me disgrazia’ - Uberto, Vespone, Serpina

Aria: ‘Sempre in contrasti’ - Uberto

Recitative: ‘In somma delle somme’ - Serpina, Uberto, Vespone

Aria: ‘Stizzoso, mio stizzoso’ - Serpina

Recitative: ‘Benissimo. Hai tu inteso?’ - Uberto, Serpina, Vespone

Duet: ‘Lo conosco, a quegli occhietti’ - Serpina, Uberto

Intermezzo Secondo

Recitative: ‘Or che fatto ti sei dalla mia parte’ - Serpina, Vespone, Uberto

Aria: ‘A Serpina penserete’ - Serpina

Recitative: ‘Ah! Quanto mi sa male’ - Uberto, Serpina

Aria: ‘Son imbrogliato io già’ - Uberto

Recitative: ‘Favorisca, signor, passi’ - Serpina, Vespone, Uberto

Duet: ‘Per te ho io nel core’ - Serpina, Uberto

Finale: ‘Contento tu sarai’ - Serpina, Uberto

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

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Guide Written By:

Wendy Silvester

Wendy Silvester

Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.