Le cinesi (The Chinese Women) is an opera in one act, with music composed by Christoph Willibald Gluck. The Italian-language libretto was by Pietro Metastasio, and he described it as a . This libretto had first been set by Antonio Caldara in 1735. For Gluck's rework, the piece is often considered as an , even though Metastasio and the composer both retained the original designation. The work was first performed for the Austrian royal family at the Schloss Hof on 24 September 1754, on the occasion of the visit of the Empress Maria Theresa to the household of Saxe-Hildburghausen.Howard, Patricia, "Music in London: Opera – Le cinesi" (September 1984). The Musical Times, 125 (1699): pp. 515–517.
Max Loppert has commented on Gluck's relationship with the Austrian royal family and its bearings on this work.Loppert, Max, "Gluck's Chinese Ladies: An Introduction" (June 1984 The Musical Times, 125 (1696): pp. 321–323, 325. The work has also been characterized as a satire on then-contemporary opera conventions.Monelle, Raymond, Review of Les Fêtes théâtrales de Métastase à la cour de Vienne (1731–1767) by Jacques Joly (January 1980). Music & Letters, 61 (1): pp. 113–114.
Roles +RoleVoice typePremiere cast, 24 September 1754LisingacontraltoVittoria TesiSilangotenorJoseph FriebertSivenesopranoTheresia HeinischTangiacontraltoKatharina Starzer
Synopsis The Chinese women of the title are Lisinga and her two friends, Tangia and Sivene. The only other character is Lisinga's brother Silango, who has just returned from Europe. To entertain him, they perform arias in contrasting styles: Lisinga sings a tragic scena, as the character of Andromache. Sivene and Silango sing a pastoral duet as shepherdess and shepherd, respectively. The two already share romantic feelings towards each other. Tangia, who is envious of Silango's affection towards Sivene, sings a comic aria that pokes fun at a young Parisian dandy standing before a mirror, and thus indirectly satirising Sivene. The characters agree that each style has its drawbacks. The opera concludes with a ballet, The Judgment of Paris, sung as a vocal quartet.
Recordings Deutsche Harmonia Mundi EL 16 9575 1: Isabelle Poulenard, Gloria Banditelli, Anne Sofie von Otter, Guy de Mey; Orchestra of the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis; René Jacobs, conductorRushton, Julian, Review of recording of Le cinesi (May 1987). Early Music, 15 (2): pp. 297–298. Orpheo Cat: 178891A: Kaaren Erickson, Alexandrina Miltcheva, Marga Schiml, Thomas Moser; Munich Radio Orchestra; Lamberto Gardelli, conductor.Le cinesi, Naxos Records
References
External links Libretto of Le cinesi
"Details", Bampton Classical Opera