The Italian Girl in London – Cimarosa

‘Amanda Holden is a translator in a thousand, following up her Finta Giardiniera for Opera North with an absolute gem here, natural, easy on the ear and unselfconsciously up to date.’
Birmingham Post

‘An enjoyable evening is contrived by three factors – an intelligent translation…’
Independent

This little performed two act intermezzo, a wonderfully droll comedy, was Cimarosa’s first success. The translation was commissioned by the Buxton Festival for what was claimed to be the British premiere – though a hybrid version opened in London during Cimarosa’s lifetime, at the Kings Theatre, Haymarket on 15 January 1788.

The Buxton production, directed by Jamie Hayes, opened on 9 August 1989. The cast included Susan Bullock, Christopher Gillett, Steven Page and Andrew Shore. The piece is full of lively music and comic situations; it’s curious that it isn’t revived more often.

Domenica Cimarosa

Act I, scene 1

SUMERS

Always fighting fills the papers.
all they write about is fighting.
Business news is more exciting,
that’s what I would rather read.

Don POLIDORO

English tea does not refresh me,
it’s so hot I cannot drink it.
Dearest Naples, how much I miss you…
That’s the life I’d rather lead.

Mme BRILLANTE

Don’t you like our English newspapers?…