Search - Mercadante, Aprea, Int'l Orch of Italy :: Il Bravo

Fascinating work well performed.

John Cragg | Delta(greater Vancouver), B.C Canada | 07/25/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mercadante must be one of the most underrated of neglected composers. He wrote interesting, even exciting operas using the language of traditional bel canto romantic operas, but extending them in ways to make them musically more compelling and interesting. Unfortunately, he was doing this just as Verdi was about to smash the model and lead Italian Opera in a different (and terminal) direction. What we have in Mercadante is a subtle composer who could write duets well worthy of Donizetti, splendid individual arias and choruses not inferior to early Verdi, mixed with some rather surprising new slants.This opera from the Festival della Valle d'Itria demonstrates clearly these strengths while providing an interesting and most enjoyable listening experience, The largely unknown principals sing well, indeed at times ravishingly, the conducting is firm and effective, and the sound for a live recording is exemplary. This is all together a worthwhile acquisition which I have enjoyed tremendously on repeated hearings."

From the Glimmerglass to La Scala

Hugh Macdougall | Cooperstown, New York USA | 08/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Not previously mentioned in reviews of this 1839 opera (which opened at Milan's La Scala) is that its libretto is based on James Fenimore Cooper's 1831 novel "The Bravo," set in 18th century Venice. Though Cooper's story has been filtered through a French stage version, which altered the names of Cooper's characters and added new elements, "Il Bravo" remains not only musically exciting, but also a strong indictment of a corrupt and faceless totalitarian state written over a century before Orwell's "1984", and intended as a warning by Cooper to his fellow-Americans."

An interesting, not well known opera

maulus | ROMA Italy | 10/03/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a recording of a beautiful opera that is very difficult to hear in common opera seasons. Although Mercadante had not the easiness of his more famous contemporaries in inventing arias, he was an excellent musician. The opera is quite well sung and played. An interesting addition to your belcanto discography."