Summary: “The Pretend Garden-Girl” is an Italian opera and was mentally copied from Mozart’s hearing of the 1774 opera of the same name by Pasquale Anfossi which Mozart heard while at the Weber’s in Munich. This amazing mental feat of hearing an entire opera, only one time, then improving and copying the entire opera to paper as his own opera, shows just how brilliant Mozart’s natural music talent was. Also, amazingly, the opera was written to paper, parts and scores in less than a week and was performed for the first time on January 13, 1775. There is no doubt that the entire Weber family helped Mozart with the copying. The story follows Count Belfiore and the Marchioness Violante Onesti (or the Violent but Honest Marchioness), who were lovers before Belfiore stabbed Violante in a fit of rage. The story begins with the revived Violante and her servant Roberto disguised as "Sandrina" and "Nardo," and quietly working in the mansion of the town Podestà. Violante discovers that Belfiore has become engaged to Arminda, the niece of the Podestà, and when Belfiore confesses his lingering love for Violante, Arminda jealously conspires to abduct the other woman. When Violante is found, she and Belfiore lose their minds and believe themselves to be Greek gods. When they regain their senses Violante forgives the Count and they fly to each other's arms. Arminda returns to Cavalier Ramiro, her spurned suitor, and Roberto finds love with Serpetta, another servant of the Podestà. This performance is by the CMD Grand Opera Company of Venice and is conducted by Dominique Beaulieu. Purchase now at: http://www.classicalsavings.com/store/p465/Mozart%3A_The_Pretend_Garden-Girl.html
