This May, the Jette Parker Artists and The Royal Opera stage Georg Philipp Telemann’s rarely performed opera Pimpinone in a subversive, witty look at gender politics, 300 years after it was first written. Expanded from its original length as an interlude between the acts of George Handel’s opera seria, Tamerlano, this satire on class and gender hierarchies opens on Friday 2 May in the Linbury Theatre.
Directed by Jette Parker Artist Sophie Gilpin, with fellow JPA Peggy Wu conducting the Orchestra of English National Opera (ENO), and designed by Anna Yates, this production utilises additional musical material in the form of the three movements from a complete instrumental work (the Sinfonia Spirituosa in D major, TWV 44:1), also by Telemann. Excitingly, Pimpinone marks the first performance of a Telemann opera in Covent Garden, making it a true celebration of the composer and continuing The Royal Opera’s recent series of Baroque opera performances that have taken place in the Linbury Theatre.
Sophie Gilpin, director of Pimpinone, said:
“I’m thrilled to be directing Telemann’s sparkling comedy, Pimpinone. Alongside its lighthearted humour, this rarely performed gem grapples with profound issues of power, class, and gender. Vespetta’s journey speaks to a timeless struggle for empowerment and autonomy, while Pimpinone experiences the discomfort of losing control in a world that’s shifting beneath his feet. It’s exciting to find such contemporary relevance in the delightful absurdity of a 300-year-old opera, allowing us to laugh while reflecting on how much – and how little – has changed.”
Written for just two singers, Pimpinone bears the subtitle ‘An unequal marriage’ and chronicles 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, and over three acts audiences will witness the subsequent power shift. The production’s staging is inspired by 1960s London, a time when women were pushing the boundaries of what they could do and who they could be – a perfect backdrop to Vespetta’s social ascension. Jette Parker Artist Isabela Díaz takes on the role of ‘little wasp’ Vespetta, with fellow JPA Grisha Martirosyan singing the titular Pimpinone.
Elaine Kidd, Head of Jette Parker Artists Programme, said:
“Telemann features regularly in orchestral programmes, but is rarely brought to life for the opera-going public. The 300th anniversary of the piece offers a great opportunity to hear both Pimpinone and other extracts of his music that we have included as interludes between the scenes. Our Artists can bring their full creativity to bear on neglected pieces, free from the ghosts of interpretations past that hover over more regularly performed repertoire.”
Pimpinone runs from Friday 2 May – Saturday 17 May in the Linbury Theatre. Tickets are available at rbo.org.uk. The Royal Opera’s Jette Parker Artists Programme is a two-year programme committed to nurturing the next generation of conductors, directors, répétiteurs and singers by offering career-changing opportunities across the Royal Ballet and Opera stages
