Campus News

See La finta giardiniera March 11, 13-15

March 13, 2015
Lisa Gulasy

Oberlin Opera Theater performances of La finta giardiniera (“The pretend garden-girl”) K.196, written by an 18-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, resume today, Friday, March 13, and continue through Sunday, March 15, in Hall Auditorium. The opera is directed by Jonathon Field and conducted by Raphael Jiménez.

La finta giardiniera follows Count Belfiore and the Marchioness Violante Onesti, who were lovers before Belfiore stabbed Violante in a fit of rage. Thinking he has killed Violante, Belfiore flees. Violante recovers from her injuries and pursues Belfiore along with her servant, Roberto.

The opera opens with Violante and Roberto (disguised as Sandrina and Nardo) arriving in the Italian town of Lagonero. The pair, pretending to be gardeners, offer their services to the Podestà, the city’s chief judicial magistrate. The Podestà quickly falls in love with the pretend garden-girl. Meanwhile, Violante discovers Belfiore has become engaged to the Podestà’s niece, Arminda. Though she denies her true identity, Belfiore soon recognizes Violante and confesses his lingering love for her. Arminda flies into a fit of madness, and an air of perplexity and jealousy overcomes the Podestà’s household.

La finta giardiniera is an opera in three acts that runs approximately two hours and 25 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission. For time and ticket information, visit the Events Calendar.

Photo Gallery

Photograph of three actors on a stage. Two are standing and one is kneeling.
Rose Kearnin ’15, Andrew Groble ’15, and Julie Crookston ’15 perform the roles of Sandrina, Nardo, and Serpetta in La finta giardiniera March 11 and 14. Rebecca Achtenberg ’15, Aaron Keeney ’15, and Katherine Skayhan ’15 perform the roles March 13 and 15. Photo credit: Courtesy of Yevhen Gulenko
Photograph of three people on stage in costume. There is an orchestra playing below them.
Five rabbits act as “spirit guides" in Director Jonathon Field’s production of La finta giardiniera. The rabbits are played by Tayte Mitchell ’17, Theodora Nestorova ’18, Santiago Pizarro ’17, Sarah Sims ’17, Alexa Weeks ’17, and Adam Wells ’16. Photo credit: Courtesy of Yevhen Gulenko
Photograph of two people on stage in costume.
In La finta giardiniera, the Podestà’s housekeeper, Serpetta (portrayed here by Julie Crookston ’15), tries to win his affections. The Podestà (portrayed here by Nicholas Giunta ’17), however, pines for Sandrina, the pretend garden-girl. Photo credit: Courtesy of Yevhen Gulenko
Photograph of a woman with her arm extended in front of her and someone in a rabbit costume behind her.
In La finta giardiniera, the Marchioness Violante Onesti (played here by Rose Kearin ’15) disguises herself as Sandrina while in pursuit of her former lover, Count Belfiore. Photo credit: Courtesy of Yevhen Gulenko
Photograph of someone on stage in costume and painting on their face.
Juliana Zara ’17 performs as Arminda in Oberlin Opera Theater’s La finta giardiniera on March 11 and 14. See Elissa Pfaender ’16 as Arminda March 13 and 15. Photo credit: Courtesy of Yevhen Gulenko
Photograph of three people on stage. One person is in a rabbit costume. The other is in a wheelchair and someone is kneeling on the side of this person and looking at their hand.
Daniel McGrew ’15 and Nicholas Giunta ’17 perform as Count Belfiore and the Podestà in Oberlin Opera Theater’s La finta giardiniera on March 11 and 14. See Daveed Buzaglo ’16 and Nicholas Music ’18 in the roles March 13 and 15. Photo credit: Courtesy of Yevhen Gulenko
Photograph of 4 people on stage and one person is in a clown costume.
From left to right: Nicholas Giunta ’17 as the Podestà, Rose Kearnin ’15 as Marchioness Violante Onesti/Sandrina, Andrew Groble ’15 as Roberto/Nardo, and Julie Crookston ’15 as Serpetta. Photo credit: Courtesy of Yevhen Gulenko
Photograph of three actors on a stage. Two are standing and one is kneeling.
Photograph of three people on stage in costume. There is an orchestra playing below them.
Photograph of two people on stage in costume.
Photograph of a woman with her arm extended in front of her and someone in a rabbit costume behind her.
Photograph of someone on stage in costume and painting on their face.
Photograph of three people on stage. One person is in a rabbit costume. The other is in a wheelchair and someone is kneeling on the side of this person and looking at their hand.
Photograph of 4 people on stage and one person is in a clown costume.

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