Il matrimonio segreto Program Notes
From the Director Little Havana meets Italian comedy in Il matrimonio segreto
62 | FLORIDA GRAND OPERA
season
Il matrimonio segreto is composer Domenico Cimarosa’s
most well-known work to us, despite his having composed
over 80 operas and countless instrumental works. He was
a very successful and well-known composer whose work is
now overshadowed by that of his contemporary Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart. He also served as composer to the court
of Russia’s Catherine the Great. In Il matrimonio segreto we
recognize several tropes that continue to resonate with our
sensibilities today.
The opera is intricately woven
to provide us true situation
comedy, which stems from
the Italian commedia dell’arte
tradition. What is most masterful
is the absence of a matriarchal
bit unscrupulous) aunt Fidalma
who attempts to be the lethal
combination of both mediator and
ingenue, thus failing in her role as
Elisetta and Carolina. The father,
Geronimo, is an insensitive man who is also conveniently hard
of hearing (which he uses to his advantage). After all, what
he seeks is not necessarily happiness for his daughters but
rather his gaining higher status through their marriages. In
typical comedic fashion, the young and lower class servant,
Paolino, is married in secret to Carolina and must at all costs
prevent Count Robinson from marrying her. She’s considered
to be “prettier” than Elisetta, leaving us the opportunity to
interactions with the Count. Elisetta seems to lack the grace
and wit that Carolina naturally possesses.
With every joy there is certainly sorrow. There are moments of
true despair when Carolina fears that her future will be spent
locked away in a convent and away from Paolino. Her plea
in the second act, “Ah, let me breathe,” is the moment when
marriage to her family. The sweetness and momentum of the
plea is indicative of her desire for courageousness, rather
than helplessness. What ensues after this is nothing short of
bedroom farce that leads to a happy ending of acceptance.
Since Carolina and Paolino’s marriage has already taken place,
the traditional and Catholic Geronimo has no choice but to
accept it.
Like most comic operas, this
one lends itself to 20th century
the audience of the greater Miami
area, our production sets the story
in 1980s Little Havana. It seems
appropriate that Geronimo’s
motives are inspired by a desire
for his immigrant family to gain
status in a country where he has
made his home for the past three
decades. After all, he has become
a successful businessman. He
perceives that his daughters
Robinson. But Carolina, having more of a taste for freedom
than her older sister, has grabbed the American Dream by
the horns to forge her own independence. Despite potential
retribution from her more traditional father, she marries the
man she loves. In her interactions with her husband Paolino we
see the union of carnal passion and true love between people
interpretation of a classic Italian opera. Because like audiences
to hold up a mirror to humanity in order see an accurate and
perhaps inspire people’s lives with fresh perspective.
BY CRYSTAL MANICH
Like most comic operas, this
one lends itself to 20th century
adaptation. Specifically for
you, the audience of the
greater Miami area, our
production sets the story in
1980s Little Havana.
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