Title: Gioachino Rossini's "Matilde di Shabran"
Original title: Gioacchino Rossini: Matilde di Shabran
Released: 2012
Genre: Opera
Directed by: Mario Martone
Conductor: Michele Mariotti
Cast: Juan Diego Flórez, Tenor; Olga Peretyatko, Soprano; Marco Filippo Romano, Bass; Anna Goryachova, Contralto; Nicola Alaimo, Baritone; Paolo Bordogna, Bass; Simon Orfila, Bass; Chiara Chialli, Mezzo-Soprano; Giorgio Misseri, Tenor; Ugo Rosati, Tenor; Coro del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna

Description:

"There truly is a Rossini miracle!" (Deutschlandradio). Acclaiming the mastery of tenorissimo Juan Diego Flórez and the breathtaking young soprano Olga Peretyatko in the lead roles, the press hailed the premiere of Rossini's Matilde di Shabran at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro as the "high point of the festival" (the Berlin daily Der Tagesspiegel).

Matilde di Shabran was given its world premiere performance in Rome in 1821. A genuine international hit, it was staged in Vienna, London, Paris, New York and throughout Italy all before 1830. The music of Rossini's last "opera semiseria" - thus half serious and half comic - contains a succession of beguiling ensemble pieces. The plot revolves around the knight Corradino, who has withdrawn to his castle and professes to hate his fellow humans. When he meets Matilde di Shabran, however, he experiences unknown emotions that have nothing to do with hatred ...

Leading the Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, conductor Michele Mariotti commands an ideal ensemble of singers: while Juan Diego Flórez, "perhaps the best Rossini tenor of our time" (Deutschlandradio), sings the role of Corradino, that of Matilde is "gorgeously sung by Olga Peretyatko "(The New York Times). Mario Martone's production gives pride of place to two imposing spiral staircases that not only allow grand entrances and exits, but also occasional displays of athleticism!

The production was recorded at the Rossini Opera Festival of Pesaro, Italy, the composer's birthplace and location of the world's only festival dedicated to researching, publishing and performing not just Rossini's best-known works, but also his little-known operas, gems that have been unjustly neglected for many, many years.

Issued: United States | Decca
Duration: 3:38:16