This is a clip of the finale of Franz Joseph Haydn’s opera buffa entitled L’ Infedelta’ Delusa, or Deceit Outwitted. It was created around 1773 in the Esterhaza, a rural retreat for Prince Nikolaus I in western Hungary. It was first performed at this retreat, that was transformed into an opera house, on July 26, 1773.
This opera features a multitude of wit and deceit. The plot surrounds the characters of Vespina and Nanni, who are brother and sister, Filippo and Sandrina, who are father and daughter, and Nencio. All but Nencio are Turkish peasants. Nencio is a well off farmer.
The opera begins with Filippo arranging a marriage between his daughter Sandrina and Nencio, but Sandrina and Nanni are in love. Nanni vows revenge on Filippo. Vespina is in love with Nencio and vows revenge as well, though Nencio does not seem to feel the same. Through much deceit and outwitting other characters through disguise, Vespina breaks up the arranged marriage between Nencio and Sandrina, by claiming to Filippo that Nencio was previously married. Filippo insults Nencio and Nencio then vows revenge on him.
Disguised, Vespina reveals a plan to marry Sandrina off to Marquis of Ripafratta. But then disguised as Ripafratta, Vespina tells Nencio that Sandrina will really be married off to a kitchen hand. Nencio, pleased by this revenge, wants to witness it.
In the final act, which I included above because the whole opera is very long, so I just chose to show the finale, Vespina and Nanni disguise themselves yet again. Vespina, disguised as a notary and Nanni disguised as the Marquis’ servant, meet with Filippo, Sandrina, and Nencio, being the witness, for the supposed marriage between Sandrina and Ripafratta. Cleverly Vespina has Nencio sign the contract pretending it is a witness signature and Nanni signs a contract pretending to sign the marriage certificate for the Marquis. Nanni and Vespina then take of their disguises and reveal that Nanni actually signed a marriage certificate between himself and Sandrina and Nencio actually signed a marriage certificate between himself and Vespina. Filippo then accepts the fate of his daughter’s marriage to her true love Nanni.
This opera relates to the middle class because it is based on the lives of peasants and full of wit that emphasizes the cleverness of the lower classes. Nencio, who is wealthy, is tricked by those in the lower class. This empowered the middle and lower classes because it demonstrated that wealth did not overcome wit. This is ironic considering Prince Nikolaus I, a wealthy patron to Haydn, commissioned the creation of this work and many other works of Haydn. Furthermore, this opera is linked to the middle class because throughout the piece, Haydn casually pokes fun at royalty but without seeming bitter. This made it all the more enjoyable to the middle class because the lower classes were being praised in this opera not insulted.
I truly enjoyed learning about this opera because it was full of twists and turns and there was never a dull moment. I enjoyed the cleverness of the work and I liked the message that money couldn’t buy everything, especially not love or wit. True love prevailing in the end also made the opera more than a comedy, it taught a lesson.
works cited:
http://www.bamptonopera.org/repertory/haydnlinfedelta.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27infedelt%C3%A0_delusa
http://operachic.typepad.com/opera_chic/2009/05/haydn-linfedelt%C3%A0-delusa.html
February 17, 2010 at 11:22 pm
I am glad you wrote down what happened because otherwise I would have no idea what it was about. Was there no english version?
That being said, it certainly was a good representation of the period and the periods effect on the rise of middle class. I can say this only because you explained what the opera was about.
February 26, 2010 at 7:59 am
Elanser – Opera generally isn’t translated in performance (subtitles or supertitles or a translator sitting next to you are common). One of the main things about opera is the sounds of the words and how they match with the notes of the music, what vowels are elongated, etc. Especially in Italian, which has limited number of vowels, a whole range of meanings was attached to each vowel sound.
This was a really good post, I thought. Nice synopsis of the plot. It would have been nice for some of the musical qualities or theatrical qualities to be focused on a little bit more strongly (depending which angle you were viewing the opera through).
Isn’t it cool how Opera plots are so very often rooted so very firmly in Commedia? This plot could have been right out of Commedia, except that there’s blending between the fool/servant and the Young Lovers, which seems to make for an even more amusing costume and disguise romp!
July 11, 2010 at 5:39 am
wow your blog was very detailed and thought out. I liked how you explained what was going on in the play otherwise I would of had no clue what happened. also i liked that you included several sources so I could check and compare information. the only thing I wish you included was a deeper explanation for the act you choose in your play the act should of had meaning for you or something I just wondered what that was. but overall this was very insightful.
July 29, 2010 at 12:07 am
First off the bat i would like to say good job on presenting your information very well and marking it easy for me to understand
. But as someone who isn’t all that into opera and more into Paintings and such you made this video very easy to understand and it made me appreciate a whole lot more.