Search - Rossini, Viotti, English Chamber Orch :: 5 One Act Operas

Box set reissued on Brilliant label

Demantius | Nuneaton, UK | 01/07/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"La cambiale di matrimonio (the Marriage Bill, 1810) was Rossini's first performed work, and the first of five one-acters which typify the "early Rossini". It was followed by L'inganno felice (the Happy Trick 1812), La scala di seta (the Silken Ladder, 1812), L'occasione fa il ladro (Opportunity makes the Thief 1812), and Il Signor Bruschino (1813). During the same period come the operas L'equivoco stravagante (1811) and

La pietra del paragone (1812).



The only complete recording of all five is this Viotti set recorded 1990-1992 for Claves. (The box set has now been licensed to super-budget Brilliant Boxes, with Italian libretto only). Some of the one-acters are slightly over 80 min so the box contains 8CDs not 5. There is a full review by Robert J Farr on [...]



Three of these pieces have been recorded in better performances: * Inganno felice by Marc Minkowski (Erato, deleted)

* Il Signor Bruschino by Marin with Battle & Ramey (DG, deleted, also a Naxos version this reviewer has not heard)

* Il Cambiale by Niquet (Adda, reissued with Italian libretto on Accord "Rond-Point de Musiciens". This was one of Niquet's few outings beyond the French baroque period, but one of the most successful)"