What do you do when your maid never brings your breakfast on time, is insolent, demanding and when you want to go out for the day, she refuses to give you your clothes? Why, you marry her, of course! La Serva Padrona or The Servant as Mistress is full of witty, light-hearted 18th century music with a slightly ridiculous, but loveable master and one of the most clever servants ever!

Serpina, who was raised by Umberto is now his housekeeper/maid. She has aspirations to elevate her status by marrying him, but he refuses to see her in a romantic light. Extremely clever, Serpina tries a variety of methods of persuasion and finally tricks Umberto into agreeing to marry her with the helpful of the mute (and not too bright) manservant, Vespone.

Giovanni Pergolesi is the composer and this opera premiered as an intermezzo between the acts of a serious opera in 1733. It is his most enduring work and is considered to be an important work in history because it is a prime example of the opera style which bridges the baroque and classical era