Georg Philipp Telemann: Pimpinone – or the Unequal Marriage
Georg Philipp Telemann: Pimpinone, TWV 21:15 – scenic intermezzo in three parts
- Vespetta: Mária Lökösházi
- Pimpinone: Lóránt Najbauer
- Róza Bene – harpsichord
- Andrej Kapor, Benedek Rábai, Róza Lachegyi, Noémi Megyery – violin
- Dániel Gusztos – viola
- Csilla Vályi – cello
- Zsolt Szabó – violone
- Stage direction & barokk gesture: Sigrid T’Hooft
- Costumes: Edit Zeke
- Wigs & makeup: Mariann Makláry
- Hungarian Text: Éva Lax and János Malina
- Production Coordinator: Franciska Gáll
Georg Philipp Telemann's Pimpinone (1725) remains just as fresh, witty, and relevant three hundred years after its premiere as it was when audiences first encountered it. Originally conceived as an intermezzo for Handel's opera Tamerlano, the comic musical work quickly gained popularity as an independent piece – a success that is easy to understand.
Pimpinone is at once a sparkling Baroque comedy, a subtle social satire, and a remarkably modern story about two clashing personalities. Vespetta, a clever and resourceful maid, enters the household of the ageing and somewhat awkward merchant Pimpinone as a servant, only to take control of the situation step by step. What begins as light-hearted comedy gradually develops into a battle for power within a marriage, filled with humour, irony, and an entertaining portrayal of human weakness and the complexities of relationships.
Telemann's music follows the tensions and dramatic turns between the characters with remarkable sensitivity. The lively recitatives, virtuosic arias, and playful duets are both elegant and immediate, while the fusion of Italian and German musical styles gives the work a uniquely vibrant, almost cinematic pace.
Gamba Produkció's production highlights the theatrical vitality and enduring relevance of the work while preserving the intimacy of historically informed performance and the direct expressive power of Baroque music. It offers a rewarding discovery for audiences encountering the genre for the first time, as well as a unique experience for those who appreciate fresh, engaging, and deeply human approaches to classical music and the Baroque tradition of commedia dell'arte.
Between the acts of the intermezzo, movements from the Ouverture Suite in B-flat major (TWV 55:B1) will be performed.
This production was staged by Gamba Produkció.
Tickets are available at prices ranging from HUF 5.500 to HUF 11.500 at the venue, online at jegy.hu, and at InterTicket Jegypont partners across Hungary.
Early bird ticket: 7 500 HUF (until August 15)
Early bird “Date” ticket: 14 000 HUF (automatically activated when adding 2 tickets to the cart, until August 15)
Standard ticket: 8 900 HUF (from August 16)
Supporter ticket*: 11 500 HUF (option available after adding the ticket to the cart)
Residents of Budapest District IX can purchase tickets on-site for 5 500 HUF by presenting their address card.
*By purchasing a supporter ticket, you contribute to the activities of GAMBA Produkció and the realization of its productions. The proceeds from these tickets are used entirely to fund the performing artists and contributors.