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Overview

Synopsis

Originally intended as a moment of light relief to be performed between the acts of an opera seria, Haydn’s intermezzo La Canterina tells the story of a mother and daughter who are rather down on their luck, and how they play with men’s affections to continue living the life of the wealthy.

The young and wealthy Don Ettore brings gifts for Gasparina that he has stolen from his mother, and invites the ladies out to lunch. Before he can take his leave, a knock at the door announces the arrival of Don Pelagio, Gasparina’s singing teacher. To prevent any scandal, the ladies immediately pretend that Don Ettore is a linen merchant and swiftly finish a deal with him.

Singing teacher Don Pelagio has brought Gasparina a new aria to learn. While the two of them are alone together, he uses the recitative to pass little love messages to Gasparina, before finally bursting out with a proposal of marriage for her. Gasparina leads him on, saying everything she knows will flatter his vanity, but refusing to agree to marry him.

When Don Pelagio finds out about Don Ettore, and realises what Gasparina has been doing, he takes back all of the gifts he has brought her, and demands payment for all of the singing lessons, instructing a bailiff to remove all of her furniture and seize her property. Gasparina uses every tactic she has left to save her precious belongings, singing an aria, offering him flattery, and eventually fainting. Don Ettore rushes in with the only remedy sure to work on a fainted woman; diamonds.

Gasparina revives, and Don Pelagio has returned all of her belongings, and given her many of his own as well. She and her mother rejoice that their scheme has succeeded, and they have duped the men to continue giving them gifts.

Show Information

Music
Joseph Haydn
Libretto
Joseph Haydn
Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1766
Genres
Comedy
Settings
Period, Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
an apartment, 18th century
Cast Size
small
Orchestra Size
Small
Dancing
None
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
Chamber Opera, College/University, Professional Opera, Small Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Mature Adult, Adult Characters

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Don Ettore

Lead

Male

Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor

Apollonia

Lead

Male

Soprano, Tenor, Baritone

Don Pelagio

Lead

Male

Tenor

Gasparina

Lead

Female

Soprano

Songs

Act One

Singing Lesson Scene

  • Recitativo Accompagnato ‘Che mai far degg’io’ - Don Pelagio
  • Aria ‘Io sposar l’empio tiranno’ - Don Pelagio
  • Recitative ‘Che dici’ - Don Pelagio, Gasparina, Apollonia
  • Recitativo Accompagnato ‘Che mai far degg’io?’ - Don Pelagio, Gasparina, Apollonia
  • Recitative ‘Ah, quei dolci lumi’ - Don Pelagio, Gasparina, Apollonia

Don Ettore Returns

  • Recitative ‘Che povero merlotto!’ - Gasparina, Apollonia, Don Pelagio, Don Ettore
  • Quartet ‘Scellarata! Mancatrice’ - Don Pelagio, Apollonia, Don Ettore, Gasparina

Act Two

  • Recitative ‘Uh, rovinate noi’ - Gasparina, Apollonia
  • Aria ‘Signor mio’ - Don Pelagio
  • Recitative ‘Che mai vuol dir tal cosa? - Gasparina, Don Pelagio, Apollonia
  • Aria ‘Non v’e chi mi aitua’ - Gasparina
  • Recitative ‘Misera! Dove andra?’ - Don Pelagio, Gasparina
  • Recitativo accompagnato ‘O stelle, aiuto!’ - Don Pelagio, Don Ettore, Apollonia
  • Quartet ‘Apri pur mia dea terrestre’ - Don Pelagio, Don Ettore, Apollonia, Gasparina

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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Scenes

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Guide Written By:

Wendy Silvester

Wendy Silvester

Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.