The three scenes that make up Telemann’s Pimpinone were first performed between the acts of Handel’s Tamerlano in 1725 and only later repeated as an independent work. 

Pimpinone: an operatic rarity

Georg Philipp Telemann composed the German-language opera, Pimpinone, in 1725. The librettist was Johann Philipp Praetorius. The opera was originally performed between the acts of Handel’s opera seria, Tamerlano, with the premiere taking place in Hamburg in 1725. Although the composer was alleged to have created at least 50 operas in his lifetime, only 35 survive, from which, very few recordings and productions exist. This production offers a rare chance to see a staged Telemann opera.

The story of an empowered woman

The subtitle of Telemann’s opera is ‘An unequal marriage’. The opera is a satire on class and gender hierarchies, and it is written for just two singers. The opera unfolds over three acts, and tells the story of Vespetta, a young servant, and Pimpinone, a wealthy man, who employs, and later marries her. When Vespetta begins to feel suffocated in her marriage, she takes action by demanding a better, more equal relationship with her husband.

A new production, with musical additions

In this production, directed by Sophie Gilpin, designed by Anna Yates and conducted by Peggy Wu, additional musical material is supplied in the form of the three movements from a complete instrumental work (the Sinfonia Spirituosa in D major, TWV 44:1), also by Telemann. The staging is inspired by 1960s London, a time when societal views of marriage were becoming less conservative, and women were becoming more empowered.

Baroque opera in the Linbury Theatre

Building on the success of The Royal Opera’s performances of Handel’s Covent Garden works on the Main Stage, Pimpinone is the latest in a recent series of Baroque opera performances that have taken place in the Linbury Theatre. Vivaldi’s operas, Bajazet and L’Olimpiade are two such examples, both of which were co-productions with Irish National Opera, and which were new to Covent Garden. Pimpinone, with its connection to Handel’s Tamerlano, marks the first performance of a Telemann opera in Covent Garden.