fedeltà premiata, La

‘Dramma pastorale giocoso’ (comic opera) by Haydn (libretto by G Lorenzi), first performed at Eszterháza, Hungary, on 25 February 1781; it was successfully revived in recent years at the Camden and Glyndebourne festivals in England. The story tells how the goddess Diana demands a sacrifice of two faithful lovers unless one hero offers to take their place. Fileno and Celia face this danger, but when Fileno offers his life to save Celia's, Diana shows mercy.