Description
Rediscover Donizetti’s Tragic Masterpiece: Belisario (2-CD Box Set) – Opera Rara Studio Recording
Product Details
- Composer: Gaetano Donizetti
- Title: Belisario
- Label: Opera Rara
- Catalog Number: ORC49
- UPC: 792938004921
- Format: 2 x CD (Box Set)
- Genre: Classical, Opera, Bel Canto
- Conductor: Sir Mark Elder
- Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra
- Release Year: 2013
- Total Duration: Approx. 2 hours 20 minutes
Overview
Immerse yourself in the intense emotional drama of Gaetano Donizetti’s Belisario, a celebrated tragic opera brought to life in this definitive recording by Opera Rara. Conducted by the acclaimed Sir Mark Elder, this two-disc set features the BBC Symphony Orchestra and a stellar cast led by baritone Nicola Alaimo in the title role and soprano Joyce El-Khoury as his vengeful wife, Antonina.
Written just after Lucia di Lammermoor, Belisario tells the heart-wrenching story of the great Byzantine general Belisarius. Wrongly accused of treason by his wife and blinded as punishment, he wanders into exile accompanied only by his loyal daughter, Irene. This recording captures the work's soaring melodies and dramatic intensity, restoring a masterpiece that was once one of the most performed operas in the 19th century. It is an essential addition for collectors of Bel Canto and lovers of Italian opera history.
Italian Translation / Traduzione Italiana
Panoramica Immergiti nell'intenso dramma emotivo del Belisario di Gaetano Donizetti, una celebre opera tragica riportata in vita in questa registrazione definitiva di Opera Rara. Diretto dall'acclamato Sir Mark Elder, questo cofanetto di due dischi presenta la BBC Symphony Orchestra e un cast stellare guidato dal baritono Nicola Alaimo nel ruolo del titolo e dal soprano Joyce El-Khoury nel ruolo della moglie vendicativa, Antonina.
Scritto subito dopo Lucia di Lammermoor, Belisario racconta la straziante storia del grande generale bizantino Belisario. Ingiustamente accusato di tradimento dalla moglie e accecato per punizione, vaga in esilio accompagnato solo dalla sua fedele figlia, Irene. Questa registrazione cattura le melodie svettanti e l'intensità drammatica dell'opera, ripristinando un capolavoro che un tempo era una delle opere più rappresentate del XIX secolo. È un'aggiunta essenziale per i collezionisti di Bel Canto e gli amanti della storia dell'opera italiana.
Product Features
- Definitive Studio Recording: A pristine digital recording produced in association with the BBC, ensuring audiophile sound quality.
- Complete Opera: Spans 2 CDs, capturing the full three-part tragedy (Part 1: The Triumph; Part 2: The Exile; Part 3: The Death).
- Luxury Packaging: Typical of Opera Rara, this set comes in a slipcase with extensive documentation (depending on condition, usually includes a thick booklet with libretto and scholarly essays).
- Stellar Cast: Features Nicola Alaimo, Joyce El-Khoury, Russell Thomas, and Alastair Miles delivering powerful vocal performances.
Interesting Facts
- Historical Inspiration: The opera is based on the life of the real 6th-century Byzantine general Flavius Belisarius, though the plot relies heavily on the apocryphal legend that he was blinded and became a beggar in his old age.
- A "Lost" Hit: Upon its premiere in Venice in 1836, Belisario was an instant success and remained popular for decades before falling into obscurity. Opera Rara is credited with helping revive interest in this forgotten gem.
- Cover Art: The evocative cover image features the painting The Death of Belisarius' Wife by artist François Joseph Kinson, perfectly reflecting the sombre and tragic tone of the score.
- Donizetti's Speed: Donizetti was known for his incredible speed in composition; remarkably, he began working on Belisario while he was still finishing Maria Stuarda, showcasing his prolific genius.
Italian Translation / Traduzione Italiana
Fatti Interessanti
- Ispirazione Storica: L'opera è basata sulla vita del vero generale bizantino del VI secolo Flavio Belisario, anche se la trama si basa pesantemente sulla leggenda apocrifa secondo cui fu accecato e divenne un mendicante nella sua vecchiaia.
- Un Successo "Perduto": Alla sua prima a Venezia nel 1836, Belisario fu un successo immediato e rimase popolare per decenni prima di cadere nell'oscurità. A Opera Rara va il merito di aver contribuito a ravvivare l'interesse per questa gemma dimenticata.
- Arte di Copertina: L'evocativa immagine di copertina presenta il dipinto La morte della moglie di Belisario dell'artista François Joseph Kinson, che riflette perfettamente il tono cupo e tragico della partitura.
Cast & Roles
- Giustiniano (Emperor of the East) – Alastair Miles
- Belisario (Supreme Commander of Giustiniano's armies) – Nicola Alaimo
- Antonina (Belisario's wife) – Joyce El-Khoury
- Irene (Their daughter) – Camilla Roberts
- Alamiro (A prisoner of Belisario) – Russell Thomas
- Eudora (Friend of Irene) – Julia Sporsén
- Eutropio (Head of Imperial Guards) – Peter Hoare
- Eusebio (Warden of the prisons) – Edward Price
- Ottario (Leader of the Alani and Bulgars) – Michael Bundy
Publishers
Opera Rara / BBC
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