Le Cinesi

• Lisinga, elegant Chinese and sister of Silango (mezzo- soprano)
• Sivene, friend and lover of Lisinga Silangos (soprano )
• Tangia, girlfriend of Lisinga (mezzo- soprano)
• Silango, young Chinese brother and lover of Lisinga Sivenes, recently returned from Europe ( Tenor)

Le Cinesi to German, the Chinese women, is a comic opera in one act by Christoph Willibald Gluck. The Italian libretto was written by the Viennese Hofdicher Pietro Metastasio. Gluck wrote the opera on the occasion of invitation of Maria Theresa by the Prince of Saxe- Hildburghausen on his estate castle courtyard where a multi-day festival was celebrated. The premiere took place there on 24 September, 1754. It is an aesthetic discussion in the guise of a Chinoiserie, which compares the tragedy, the Pastoral and the comic opera.

Action

Lisinga, Sivene and Tangia spend the afternoon together in bored Lisingas chambers, without they can think of an interesting employment. ( "E ben: stupid e mute par che siam divenute ... !")

But then enters Silango, Lisingas brother, who has just returned from Europe, the girls' room and thus exceeds a Chinese ban. ( " Diro, Nymphs, anchor io il parer mio, se non vi son malesto ...")

Although the friends tell him to go back, hesitates Silango who is in love with Sivene. When the girls have made sure that Silango was seen when coming from no one, decides Lisinga that he must stay until nightfall to avoid detection. ( "È miglior consiglio differir, che tu parta, infin che il ciel affatto s'oscuri. " )

The time until the evening they want to distribute, on Silangos suggestion, with theater games. But everyone wants to play another piece:

Lisinga opts for Greek tragedy and plays Andromache with her son. ( " Questa è la real città d' Epiro. D' Ettore io sono la vedova fedele. " )

Sivene and Silango, as shepherdess and shepherd Licoris Tirsis, lead to a Pastorale. ( " Qui al consiglio d'un fonte il crin s'infiora Licori pastorella semplice, quanto bella. Tirsi al fianco Ha ...")

Tangia noticed upset that Silango is in love with Sivene ( "Quel di titolo è bella assai -frequency " ) and does indirectly fun of the returned recently from Europe Silango in the comedy of its choice. ( "Il vago Tirsi accomodar vogl'io !")

Then breaks out again disagreement over who have now played the best. Finally Silango trying to convey and proposes to dance, since there is no crying, no yawning and no offense would be in ballet. ("! Concertate un balletto Ognunne gode, ognuno se ne intende; non fa pianger, non secca e non offende. " )

The piece concludes with a joint dance of four. ( " Voli il piede in lieti giri! ...")