From Venice to Vienna: 450 Miles between Goldoni and Mozart

Abstract

In 1764 Goldoni wrote his libretto of La finta semplice which was setted by Salvatore Perillo, a Neapolitan musician, for the Venetian theatre in San Moisè. Meanwhile the young Mozart, teenager, wrote a new score for La finta semplice in 1768, that was further revised by Marco Coltellini and represented in Salzburg the next year. In 1784 Wolfgang composed the variations K 460 on Come un agnello from Le nozze by Goldoni and Sarti, quoting the aria’s incipit in the last ensemble of Don Giovanni.