15 - 19 August: Opera in the garden La Serva Padrona

9 August 2012

For the 9th consecutive year Museum Van Loon organizes a short opera in its canal house garden, this year La Serva Padrona, a short opera from 1733 by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736).

La Serva Padrona is a beautiful example of the ‘opera buffa’; the Napolitan comic opera. This genre, originally meant as an intermezzo between acts of an ‘opera seria’ (serious opera), developed in a short period of time into a proper opera genre. Famous examples are Le Nozze di Figaro by Mozart and Il Barbiere di Siviglia by Rossini.

The Maid the Boss is about the battle between the sexes, as the house maid refuses to play second fiddle to her ‘padrone’ any longer. An early example of female empowerment in this 18th century opera buffa.

Maid Serpina is on strike. Her employer Uberto doesn’t notice anything until his breakfast isn’t served. Then the battle really starts. The two main characters can’t stand each other, have a verbal contest but in doing so fall in love. The trail of strenght tranforms into a loveaffair. The question remains however who really is boss now?

La Serva Padrona brings short arias and duets, the melodies are simple yet charming.

Performers are Else-Linde Buitenhuis (soprano), Jan Willem Baljet (bariton) and Jeroen Sarphati (piano). Director: Elsina Jansen; styling: Martina Fehmer

The concert will take about 45 minutes. After the performance people can enjoy a drink and a stroll through the luscious garden. The house itself can also be visited.

Times:
15 aug 17:00 (premiere) and 19:30
16 aug 17:00 and 19:30
17 aug 17:00 and 19:30
18 aug 17:00 and 19:30
19 aug 17:00 and 19:30

Entrance fee: € 18,00

Tickets available only online at: www.grachtenfestival.nl
Seating is limited, order well in advance (sale starts July)