New College opera - Josef Haydn’s Le Pescatrici

The Opera

This is the composer’s first full length opera. The libretto was by Carlo Goldoni, who with a mixture of comic and serious characters, provides a witty social commentary.

The story tells of Lindoro, Prince of Sorrento, who is in search of the lost Princess of Benevento; he wishes to marry her and restore her to her rightful throne. She was last seen at the fishing village of Taranto, where two fisher girls ~ Nerina and Lesbina ~ live.

When the Prince arrives they both pretend that they are the Princess, in order to catch his eye. To do so, they ditch their current lovers, the fishermen Fresollino and Burlotto: the men in turn seek revenge by trying to pass each other’s girlfriend as the Princess. However, by the means of a dramatic identification of a jewelled dagger, it emerges that Eurilda is the actual lost Princess.

The opera was premiered on 16th September 1770, in the theatre at Eszterhaza, the residence of Haydn’s patron. It was a huge success, but the destruction of both the vocal and orchestral parts in the fire at the opera house in 1779, has meant that the surviving work is a reconstruction of Haydn’s original. And for this reason, it has received very few modern stagings.

The Arrangements for the Evening

Please enter New College from Turl Street, and note that there is no parking at the college.

The New College cloisters will be open from 4.30pm where you will be offered a complimentary glass of fizzy.

At 5pm there will be a Pre Performance talk by Professor Michael Burden, Director of the New Chamber Opera.

The opera will be performed in the Warden’s delightful secluded garden (or in the chapel if it is wet). The Warden’s garden will be open from 6pm with the performance starting at 6.30 pm. You will receive your seating allocation for the performance in the garden, on arrival. Seating is unallocated in the chapel, should we need to be in there.

There will be a 75-minute interval half way through the performance for you to enjoy your picnic in the candle lit cloisters. Please bring your own picnic, cutlery, glasses and plates. We provide tables, chairs and table cloths.

The dress code is relaxed formal; however, some guests prefer to opt for wearing black tie.

We look forward to seeing you there for what will, as always, be a very enchanting evening!