Release Date: 23 June 2014
Label: Avie
Packaging Type: Box Set
No of Units: 3
Barcode: 822252231229
Genres: Classical  
Composer/Series: Maometto Secondo
Release Date: 23 June 2014
Label: Avie
Packaging Type: Box Set
No of Units: 3
Barcode: 822252231229
Genres: Classical  
Composer/Series: Maometto Secondo
Description
In celebration of its 25th anniversary season, Garsington Opera releases its first commercial recording - Rossini's rare Maometto Secondo. Recorded live at Garsington Opera's universally acclaimed 2013 performances, this 3-CD set is stylishly packaged in a 100-page hardbound book, complete with synopsis, essay and libretto in Italian with English translations. The production values mirror Garsington Opera's exceptional artistic standards and beautiful setting.
Set in the 15th century, Rossini's hugely ambitious undertaking depicts the Turkish Sultan Maometto's siege of the Venetian outpost of Negroponte and his ultimate defeat. The superb international cast is led by the suitably menacing bass-baritone Darren Jeffery in the title role, with American soprano Siân Davies in her European debut as his anguished daughter Anna, Australian mezzo Caitlin Hulcup as the general Calbo, and tenor Paul Nilon as the Venetian Governor. The assured baton of David Parry conducting the Garsington Opera Orchestra and Chorus highlights the brilliant and dramatic score.
Personnel: Garsington Opera Orchestra and Chorus, David Parry (conductor), Paul Nilon (tenor - Erisso Governor of the Venetians), Siân Davies (soprano - Anna his daughter), Darren Jeffery (bass-baritone - Maometto Sultan of the Turks), Caitlin Hulcup (mezzo soprano - Calbo Venetian general), Christopher Diffey (tenor - Condulmiero Venetian general), Richard Dowling (tenor - Selimo follower of Maometto)
Critical acclaim for Garsington Opera's Maometto the Second:
"(5 stars) An all-round triumph." - Financial Times
"A major coup for Garsington Opera...a masterpiece...sterling production." - Opera Today
"Bravo, Garsington." - The Daily Telegraph
"An astonishing success." - Opera
Tracklisting
Sonnambula
Christoph Croise; Daniel Schnyder
Bruce Wolosoff
Daniel-Ben Pienaar
Sean Jones, Nicholas Phan, London Symphony Orchestra, Joseph Young
National Philharmonic, Curtis Stewart, Michael Repper
Theatro
Susan Narucki, Curtis Macomber
Tibor Gyenge, Michael Schoch
Oda Voltersvik
Nils Anders Mortensen
Lars Notto Birkeland, Forsvarets Stabsmusikkorps, Peter Szilway, Eirik Raude
Ben van Oosten
Gudrun Sidonie Otto, Elvira Bill, Georg Poplutz, Thilo Dahlmann Goldberg Baroque & Vocal Ensemble,
Maxim Rysanov; Dasol Kim; Roman Mints; Kristina Blaumane; BBC Concert Orchestra; Dobrinka Tabakova
Paul Smith