MOZART : LA FINTA SEMPLICE

Radio New Zealand Concert Network
Sunday 8th of November 2015 at  6 - 8.15  pm

MOZART: La Finta semplice K51, an opera in three acts
Fracasso............................ Leonardo Cortelazzi
Rosina............................... Chen Reiss
Cassandro......................... Kay Stiefermann
Polidoro............................ Oliver Ringelhahn
Giacinta............................ Elena Belfiore
Simone.............................. David Steffens
Ninetta.............................. Anna Lucia Richter
Munich Radio Orch/Rinaldo Alessandrini
(recorded in the Prinzregententheater, Munich)

INTRODUCTION
SYNOPSIS
LIBRETTO
SCORE

Wolfi Mozart was 12 years of age in 1768 when he composed this, in Vienna, at the request of the Emperor; it had a total of 558 pages. Intrigues prevented its performance in Vienna; but it had its première in Salzburg in 1769; after that it was put to rest until 1983.

   The title is La finta semplice, 'the feigned simpleton' (or 'the fake innocent'). We can see 'feint' and 'feigned' in the Italian word finta. The person who pretends to be naïve is the scheming Rosina, at the instigation of the wily Ninetta.   

   This opera must not be confused with Mozart's La Finta Giardiniera (The feigned gardener-girl , or words to that effect) of 1775.  
   It is an opera buffa, and thus ideal for comical opera buffs.