Il matrimonio segreto

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Operas by Domenico Cimarosa
La finta parigina (1773) L'Armida immaginaria (1777) Giannina e Bernardone (1781) La Cleopatra (1789) Il matrimonio segreto (1792) Il maestro di cappella (1793) Le astuzie femminili (1794)
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Il matrimonio segreto (The Secret Marriage) is an opera in two acts, music by Domenico Cimarosa, on a libretto by Giovanni Bertati, based on the play The Clandestine Marriage by George Colman the Elder and David Garrick. It was first performed on February 7, 1792 in Vienna, at the Imperial Hofburg Theatre, in the presence of Emperor Leopold II.

1 Performance history
2 Major roles
3 Synopsis
4 Recordings
5 Sources
6 References

[edit] Performance history

Cimarosa's only work still to be regularly performed, it is arguably one of the greatest 18th century opera buffa apart from those by Mozart. Its premiere was the occasion of the longest encore in operatic history; Leopold II was so delighted that he ordered supper served to the company and the entire opera repeated immediately after.

[edit] Major roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, February 7, 1792 Conductor:
Carolina	soprano
Elisetta	soprano
Fidalma	mezzo-soprano
Paolino	tenor
Geronimo	bass
Count Robinson	bass

[edit] Synopsis

The action takes place in 18th century Bologna.

Paolino has secretly married Geronimo's daughter Carolina. Their situation is complicated by Carolina's aunt Fidalma, who loves Paolino, and by the arrival of the Englishman Count Robinson who, although betrothed to Geronimo's other daughter Elisetta, falls in love with Carolina. After much scheming and amorous intrigue, the truth about the marriage is revealed and all ends happily.