The Embassy of Italy and the Italian Institute of Culture in collaboration with the Indonesia Opera Society will commemorate Italy's National Day with the presentation of Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's Opera "”La Serva Padrona" on May 31, 2008, in Bali.

The Opera Buffa will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2008, at the Gedung Ksirarnawa at the Bali Art Center (Taman Budaya) in downtown Denpasar.

"La Serva Padrona"

The opera buffa "La Serva Padrona” by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736) was presented for the first time in Naples on August 28, 1733, at the Theatre San Bartolomeo as an intermezzo to the opera seria "Il Prigionier Superbo", also by Pergolesi. Later "La Serva Padrona" was independently presented, reaping acclaim from the public and superseding fame of the opera seria to which it was original presented as an addendum.

An opera of relatively short duration and playfully presented in two acts, it is hoped that this special musical presentation will win the hearts of Indonesian audiences. For its Indonesian debut, the opera is creatively set in 18th century Batavia; attiring Uberto, the Patron, and his servant, Serpina, in Javanese costumes.

For this special event, one of Italy’s leading baritones Massimo Di Stefano will perform the role of Uberto performing with Indonesian soprano, Linda Sitinjak, as Serpina.

The Bali production is supported by Robert Brown as musical director; Chendra E. Panatan as set director, and the 12-piece Jakarta Chamber Orchestra.