La finta giardiniera

The Pretended Gardener

Opera buffa in 3 acts

• Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, K. 196
• Librettist: attributed to Raniero de Calzabigi, with revisions by Marco Coltellini
• First performance: Redoutensaal, Munich, 13 January 1775
• Libretto
  • Die Gärtnerin aus Liebe (deutsche Fassung); also at Libretti Homepage

Dramatis Personæ

Don Anchise, Podestà of Lagonero, in love with Sandrina (Tenor)

Marchioness Violante Onesti, believed dead, living disguised as a gardener named Sandrina in the service of the Podestà (Soprano)

Contino Belfiore, formerly in love with Violante, now with Arminda (Tenor)

Arminda, niece of the Podestà, a noblewoman of Milan, formerly in love with Ramiro, now betrothed to Belfiore (Soprano)

Cavalier Ramiro, Arminda's rejected suitor (Male soprano)

Serpetta, chambermaid to the Podestà; in love with him (Soprano)

Roberto, Violante's servant, now disguised as a gardener named Nardo, cousin of Sandrina; in love with Serpetta (Bass)

Setting: the country estate of the Podestà at Lagonero, near Milan; mid-18th century