Pergolesi: La serva padrona

This is all too easy to forget, given how dominant the image of Giulini presiding over his orchestra in the great symphonic repertoire has become, but the conductor first cut his teeth in the orchestra pit at La Scala, where he began as Sabata’s assistant before being swiftly promoted to principal conductor. From that era, we are left with legendary recordings of operatic masterpieces featuring Maria Callas or Renata Tebaldi, and memories of those sizzling nights at La Scala, as well as more unexpected works, such as the delightful Serva padrona, Pergolesi’s most famous intermezzo. Two leading figures of the Italian opera scene, Rosanna Carteri and Nicola Rossi-Lemeni, bring out all its verve and mischief.