Search - Gaetano Donizetti, Massimo de Bernart, Orchestra Internazionale d'Italia Opera :: Donizetti: Maria di Rohan

A Milestone in the Belcanto Repertoire

Robert Manari | San Francisco, CA United States | 04/24/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Maria di Rohan" is the second and the last opera that Donizetti (in his self imposed exile in Austria) wrote for the Viennese public, a year after the great success of his `Linda di Chamounix". Free of any censorship and other constrains associated with Italy in that period, Donizetti was fast approaching the summit of his artistic powers. Willing to please his host audience he employs here many features of the German musical style of the period, which makes this opera even more special and rightfully considered by the connoisseurs to be one of Donizetti's best.



This is the world premiere recording, and who could have been a better choice for the leading role than Mariana Nicolesco? A recent study shows that, in the long history of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Mariana Nicolesco is the soprano who appeared in the most absolute premieres (no surprise here considering her fantastic voice and technique). However, the entire cast here (particularly the trio of M. Nicolesco, Giuseppe Morino and Paolo Coni) is in magnificent form, producing a superb and memorable performance. Coupled with a very good sound quality (rare for live recordings) this original release is probably the one to own.

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Excellent opera and quality of the interpreters

Giulio Caputi | rome, italy | 03/02/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I really enjoy this donizetti's work, I think the best of the last production of the bergamasco's composer. Very good also is the interpretation of all the singers!"