It is the special province of music to move the heart. -J.S. Bach
It is the special province of music to move the heart. -J.S. Bach
The bachelor Uberto is preparing to go out for a walk while he complains about how his maid, Serpina, refuses to listen to him and show him the proper respect his position as master of the house requires. Uberto sends his other servant, Vespone, out to fetch her. When they return, Serpina refuses to serve Uberto his chocolate and then obstructs his plan to leave. This results in an enraged Uberto singing his aria "Sempre in Contrasti" (To always contradict me). They continue to argue, eventually leading to Serpina's first aria "Stizzoso, mio stizzoso" (My angry little man) where she very condescendingly tells her master to stop making such a fuss, but also starts flirting with him. Shocked, Uberto orders Vespone to find him a wife, so he won't have to put up with her antics anymore. To Uberto's horror, Serpina offers herself to fill this new position. This leads into the duet "Lo conosco a quegli occhietti" (I know your thieving eyes), in which Uberto calls Serpina crazy, but also can't stop himself from looking at her "graceful" figure.
Serpina is plotting with Vespone. She dresses him as a soldier and hides him. Uberto comes in determined to go out once again, but this time Serpina doesn't stop him. Instead, she tells him she has become engaged to a soldier named Captain Tempest. She goes on to describe the Captain as a furious, violent man, and then sings her "tearful" aria "A Serpina penserete" (Don't forget Serpina). Serpina then offers to introduce the Captain to Uberto, and goes down the street to fetch him. While she's gone, Uberto sings his aria "Son imbrogliato io gia" (I'm all mixed up) where he debates the pros and cons of marrying Serpina himself. Serpina enters with a disguised Vespone, who demands a dowry of 4,000 crowns. Uberto refuses to pay this, and the "Captain", through his interpreter, Serpina, gives Uberto an option. Either Uberto marries Serpina himself or the Captain will cut him into little pieces. Uberto decides against the maiming and decides to marry Serpina, and they sing their last two love duets.
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