Search - Donizetti, Giannattasio, Taylor :: Parisina

	Donizetti, Giannattasio, Taylor Parisina Genre: Classical Donizetti's gripping opera Parsina is rarely performed today -- even though it was widely staged during the two decades following its premiere. The plot is unusually dark. Parsina, the wife of Azzo, a 15th-century Duke of ... more » « less
? Larger Image

CD Details

All Artists: Donizetti, Giannattasio, Taylor, Bros, Solari
Title: Parisina
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Opera Rara
Original Release Date: 1/1/2009
Re-Release Date: 10/13/2009
Album Type: Import
Genre: Classical
Style: Opera & Classical Vocal
Number of Discs: 3
SwapaCD Credits: 3
UPC: 792938004020

Synopsis

Product Description

Donizetti's gripping opera Parsina is rarely performed today -- even though it was widely staged during the two decades following its premiere. The plot is unusually dark. Parsina, the wife of Azzo, a 15th-century Duke of Ferrara, has fallen in love with Ugo, who turns out to be a child of Azzo's pervious marriage. In furious anger at her outlandish passion, Azzo has his own son murdered, and presents his anguished stepmother with the corpse. This horrifying scenario was just the sort of passionate narrative to set the composer's musical pulses racing and the opera remained Donizetti's personal favorite among his works for many years.

CD Reviews

Another welcome offering from Opera Rara.

S. Wells | California | 11/08/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This recording presents a uniformly well sung and thoroughly enjoyable performance of this little known opera. The singers are all very good, even if none of them really stand out. Carmen Giannattasio meets the demands of the title role fearlessly and with great feeling. However, I don't find the tone of her voice particularly ingratiating. Jose Bros's voice has darkened and become weightier compared to recordings from earlier in his career. These more somber colours suit the role of Parisina's lover, Ugo. I found the finest singing that of Dario Solari in the baritone role of Azzo, Parisina's husband, who later turns out to be Ugo's father. The more traditional father figure is taken by Nicola Ulivieri as Ernesto.

There is much fine music in the opera. The quartet finales to the first and second act are splendid, especially in their slow movements. There's an unusual duet for Parisina and Azzo in the second act, in which Azzo overhears the sleeping Parisina speaking of her love for Ugo. The final act is a show piece for the soprano.

The presentation is up to Opera Rara's usual standard. The accompanying booklet contains pictures of performers from the past and many photos taken during the recording session. There's an interesting essay by Jeremy Commons and an Italian/English libretto.

I've no point of reference as I've heard no other performances of this opera. Still, I give it my hearty recommendation.

My apologies to Amazon for saying this, but it's worth shopping around. This recording is available elsewhere on the Internet for less than half Amazon's price.

"