Opera Guide and Synopsis: La Finta Semplice, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart gained much fame as a child prodigy, but his first opera, La Finta Semplice (The Feigned Simpleton) was a disaster. While Mozart's father Leopold was showing off his son's talents in Vienna in 1768, Emperor Joseph II had suggested (probably not very seriously) that Wolfgang write and conduct an opera. Leopold jumped on the idea, believing that the novelty of such a young composer and conductor would attract an audience even if the music did not.

The opera was composed to a libretto by Marco Cotellini. Despite many delays in the libretto, the score was ready for the intended premiere of January 16, 1769. But the premiere never occurred. The theater manager, an Italian named Affligio, disliked it, and the performers did not wish to be conducted by a child. Even the novelty of such a prodigious composer was not enough; it merely led to accusations that Leopold had written the entire thing himself.

Leopold finally gave up, but not before his anger made the Mozart family some enemies in Vienna. La Finta Semplice was eventually performed in Salzburg, then completely forgotten. The music is really only notable because it was composed by a twelve-year-old, who was nevertheless able to imitate so well the Italian opera buffa style of the time. La Finta Semplice and Mozart's other early operas reveal the seeds of his genius as an opera composer who would later produce such masterpieces as Don Giovanni and The Magic Flute.

Score of La Finta Semplice

A complete full score of La Finta Semplice is available at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP).

Characters in La Finta Semplice

• Fracasso, a captain (tenor)
• Simone, his lieutenant (bass)
• Don Cassandro, a miser and misogynist (bass)
• Don Polidoro, his brother, a simpleton (tenor)
• Giacinta, their sister (contralto)
• Rosina, Fracasso's sister (soprano)
• Ninetta, Giacinta's maid (soprano)

Synopsis of La Finta Semplice

Act I

Fracasso and Simone are visting the brothers Don Cassandro and Don Polidoro. Fracasso wishes to marry Giacinta, and Ninetta suggests that Don Cassandro would give his permission if he himself were in love. They plan to make Cassandro fall in love with Fracasso's sister, Rosina.

When Rosina arrives, Polidoro is immediately smitten and proposes. Rosina is uncertain, and requests that he court her more slowly, with a visit, then a note, then a gift. Cassandro, on the other hand, has heard that Rosina is simple-minded, and does not wish to marry her - but when he meets her he also falls in love, nearly giving her an expensive ring.

Rosina decides to choose between the brothers. Polidoro arrives with a gift and a note and proposes again, but she rejects him. Cassandro enters, and she asks him for his ring; he reluctantly gives it to her, then invites everyone to dinner so he can keep an eye on it.

Act II

Fracasso and Cassandro get drunk and begin fighting. Polidoro once again tries to propose to Rosina, but Cassandro chases him off. Rosina refuses to speak to Cassandro, however, because he is drunk, and so he attempts to propose to her through sign language. She gives back the ring while he is sleeping, then says she loves Polidoro as much as she loves him.

Fracasso and Cassandro duel, but Cassandro is a coward and runs away. Rosina tells Fracasso that she wishes to marry Cassandro; since Cassandro is afraid of him, Fracasso believes he will have the opportunity to marry Giacinta. When Cassandro returns, Fracasso announces that Giacinta has stolen the family fortune and escaped; he will catch her and return the money if her brothers allow him to marry her. Simone enters to announce that Ninetta has stolen what remained after Giancinta was done; Rosina suggests that he be allowed to marry her if he catches her.

Act III

Simone and Fracasso "find" Ninetta and Giacinta; Rosina agrees to marry Fracasso, to Polidoro's despair; and all are happy.

Sources:

• Dent, Edward J. Mozart's Operas: A Critical Study. New York: McBride, Nast, & Co., 1913.
• Gehrig, Dr. Franz Eduard. Mozart. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1911.
• La Finta Semplice from The Mozart Project