Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710 – 1736) was an
Italian composer, violinist and organist born at Iesi,
Pergolesi and studied music there under a local
musician, Francesco Santini. In 1725 he travelled to
Naples where he studied under Gaetano Greco and
Francesco Feo among others. He spent most of his brief
life working for aristocratic patrons like the Colonna
principe di Stigliano, and duca Marzio IV Maddaloni
Carafa.
"La Serva Padrona" (The Servant Turned Mistress) is an
opera buffa...(+)
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710 – 1736) was an
Italian composer, violinist and organist born at Iesi,
Pergolesi and studied music there under a local
musician, Francesco Santini. In 1725 he travelled to
Naples where he studied under Gaetano Greco and
Francesco Feo among others. He spent most of his brief
life working for aristocratic patrons like the Colonna
principe di Stigliano, and duca Marzio IV Maddaloni
Carafa.
"La Serva Padrona" (The Servant Turned Mistress) is an
opera buffa by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710 –
1736) to a libretto by Gennaro Antonio Federico, after
the play by Jacopo Angello Nelli. The opera is only 45
minutes long and was originally performed as an
intermezzo between the acts of a larger serious opera.
It was originally an intermezzo to Pergolesi's opera
seria, Il prigionier superbo (The Proud Prisoner). The
two were premiered on 5 September 1733, the first
performance after an earthquake in Naples had caused
all theatres to be closed, and celebrated the birthday
of the Empress of Habsburg.
“Son imbrogliato io già” (“I am all
perplexed”) is a recitative and aria that takes place
at the end of the opera after Serpina has told Uberto
that she is engaged to be married. It is here that
Uberto discovers his true feelings for Serpina. The
recitative is written in two styles. The first is
simple recitative where the characters sing only with a
subtle accompaniment in the piano. You will notice that
the accompaniment has very little movement using chords
only to support the singer with some tonality. The
second style is recitative has more movement and can be
heard in the accompaniment through rapid notes.
Although originally written for solo voice (bass), viol
& continuo, I created this arrangement for French Horn
& string Quartet (Violin, Viola, Cello & Bass).
SHEET MUSIC