Release Date: 23 June 2014
Label: Avie Records
Packaging Type: Box Set
No of Units: 3
Barcode: 822252231229
Genres: Classical  
Composer/Series: Maometto Secondo
Release Date: 23 June 2014
Label: Avie Records
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
Lauren Scott
Lynda O'Connor; Anamus; David Brophy
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Marin Alsop, Sakari Oramo, Andrew Litton, André de Ridder, Jennifer Koh & I
Inbal Segev, London Philharmonic Orchestra & Marin Alsop
Gonzalo X. Ruiz, Portland Baroque Orchestra & Monica Huggett
Sebastian Bohren, Sergei Bolkhovets, Munchener Kammerorchester
Proteus Ensemble; Stephen Shellard
Catherine Redding, Northwest Sinfonia and Choir, Clyde Mitchell
The Orchestra Now; Leon Botstein
Concordian Dawn; Christopher Preston Thompson
Quartet ES
Sarah Beth Briggs
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment; Lorraine Hunt Liberson; Harry Bicket
Manuel Teles & Alexandra Tchernakova
Andre Rieu
Wu Wei; Martin Stegner; Janne Saksala