(THE MAID TURN'D MISTRESS)
By PERGOLESI
Libretto by G. A. FEDERICO
THE WIRELESS ORCHESTRA, conducted by ARTHUR BLISS
EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY Italians liked variety in their evenings at the Opera. Between the Acts of the serious works were placed slighter, humorous pieces, termed ' Intermezzi.' La Serva Padrona is such a piece. It was first performed in 1733, on a gala evening in Naples, when the birthday of the Empress Christina was celebrated.
The plot is very simple. The gloomy old
Uberto, tired of quarrelling with his wilful servant girl Serpioa, decides to marry someone. Serpina thinks she would like to be his wife, and disguises the serving-man Vespone (who never gets a word in edge-ways), pretending that he is a ferocious fellow and that she is going to marry him. Poor Uberto, partly afraid and partly sorry for Serpina, agrees to marry her himself ; then the truth is disclosed, and all ends happily.