What opera have you been listening to, lately?

[Soave_Fanciulla]

A typical opera buffa, lots of patter and rebellious daughters, well sung.

[Florestan]

L'amico Fritz

[Clayton]

R is for Rosmonda d'lnghilterra

oh... 'ang on... sorry wrong thread

but that's what I've been listening to recently (see the confusion?)

Donizetti: Rosmonda d'lnghilterra
Bruce Ford (Enrico II), Nelly Miricioiu (Leonora di Guienna), Renée Fleming (Rosmonda Clifford), Alastair Miles (Clifford), Diana Montague (Arturo)
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir, David Parry
Recorded July 1994 Henry Wood Hall, London



First performed 1834 at Teatro della Pergola, Florence, it was another collaboration with Felice Romani based upon the story of Fair Rosamond or Rosamond Clifford and Henry II. A popular story at that time (somewhere between romantic tales and a little mocking of the English) it had more than one telling of the tale and infact Romani had been commissioned for this libretto for another composer a few years earlier that wasn't received so well.
This, however is a fine example of Donizetti's melodrammas and it is unsure as to why it did not follow with performances around Italy (actually was never performed outside Italy) when it was so favourably received in Florence. The manuscript was incorrectly thought to be lost for many years (it was catalogued in the libarary of S. Pietro a Majella in Naples) and Opera Rara performed a concert version in 1975 as a revival. This recording was made in 1994 and is both a very good performance and a recommended buy for Donizetti fans.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

All of this (yummy bass stuff*)



and about a third of this (more yummy bass stuff*)



*official musicological terminology

[Soave_Fanciulla]

[Festat]

I bought this second hand without the booklet and couldn't find the libretto online.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

I find this goes very well with cooking lentil and veg soup for the freezer



- - - Updated - - -

I bought this second hand without the booklet and couldn't find the libretto online.

What a shame Did you enjoy it?

[Soave_Fanciulla]

[Florestan]

[Festat]

What a shame Did you enjoy it?

Yes, it is very nice. Earliest surviving Salzburg opera, from the early 1690s, still pre-opera seria.

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

I'm seeing the final dress rehearsal of Adriana Lecouvreur starring the one and only Draculette in February at ROH. I've always struggled to get into this opera so I'm starting my homework early.

[Amfortas]

I'm seeing the final dress rehearsal of Adriana Lecouvreur starring the one and only Draculette in February at ROH. I've always struggled to get into this opera so I'm starting my homework early.

I just rewatched the Royal Opera House DVD, with Gheorgiu and Kaufmann, a couple of days ago. Along with its potent music, I like the opera's inherently theatrical theme, with everyone playing multiple, deceptive roles, on stage or off. Gheorgiu approaches the lead character as an unmistakable diva, but in this case that's not necessarily amiss.

Be sure to tell us how it goes!

[Ann Lander (sospiro)]

I just rewatched the Royal Opera House DVD, with Gheorgiu and Kaufmann, a couple of days ago. Along with its potent music, I like the opera's inherently theatrical theme, with everyone playing multiple, deceptive roles, on stage or off. Gheorgiu approaches the lead character as an unmistakable diva, but in this case that's not necessarily amiss.

Be sure to tell us how it goes!

Will do!

I have that DVD so will be watching that too as part of my homework.

[Clayton]

Related to the A to Z thread...



and I wanted to make the most of the hours the wife is volunteering down the charity shop by playing something that needs a bit of welly...

[Clayton]

and something also magnificent

some Rossini recorded by Richard in 1966
Semiramide
Joan Sutherland (Semiramide), Marilyn Horne (Arsace), John Serge, Joseph Rouleau, Spiro Malas, Patricia Clark, Leslie Fyson & Michael Langdon
London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge