Synopsis

With its musical depth, brilliant ensembles, tangled love triangles, disguises, mixed social classes and serious undercurrents, we recognise in Mozart’s radically new and early masterpiece La finta giardiniera the seeds of the mature operatic comedies Le nozze di Figaro and Così fan tutte.

The Podestá (Mayor) of Lagonero has cast his eye on his gardener Sandrina but in truth, this is the Countess Violante Onesti, who, under a false name and inferior status, is in search of her former lover, Count Belfiore. However, Belfiore already believes the Countess Violante to be dead, as he fears he accidentally killed her in their last argument.

Sandrina is accompanied by her servant Nardo, who has fallen madly in love with the maid Serpetta. Serpetta, on the other hand, has made it her mission to win back the attention of the Podestà. Also unhappily in love is Baron Ramiro, who was abandoned by Arminda, the Podestà’s niece, in favour of a count. Now Arminda’s wedding is imminent – and the groom is none other than Belfiore! And so finally all the lovers meet and the emotional confusion takes its course.

Production in association with Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe.

“In the Karlsruhe production of La finta giardiniera everything fits together and you discover that this rarely performed Mozart opera is a real gem.” Badisches Tagblatt, 25.10.2021