“[… ]     I  assure you that a work such as this  […] has not yet been heard”<br>
(Haydn to the publisher Artaria )<br>
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In November 1779 the opera house at Schloss Eszterháza burned to the ground and was replaced by a splendid new one, and for its opening Haydn composed the dramma pastorale giocoso “La fedeltŕ  premiata ”.<br>
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However, the building was not completed in time for the autumn 1780 season, so that the premiere could not take place until 25 February 1781 –  which did  nothing to harm the extraordinary success of the work (36 further performances  in  Eszterháza  alone!). Haydn himself was justly proud of the enchanting pastoral with its  buffo-like  complications of the three pairs of lovers, for which he struck an incomparably  cheerful note,  and he underlined the few serious themes in the story with delicate, dark  colours.<br>
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The new vocal score is based on Vol.  XXV/10 of the Haydn Edition; an appendix contains all the variants to the authentic parts of Celia and  Nerina .<br>