Gaetano Donizetti was one of the most distinguished Italian composers of the first half of the 19th century. At that time, opera was the preeminent musical genre in Italy, and many top composers based their careers on it. Unlike his contemporary Italian opera composers, though, Gaetano Donizetti also devoted his art to chamber music, producing a good number of excellent works. Between 1814 and 1821, he wrote a number of interesting compositions that included both obligato clarinet or two clarinets in C, as well as demanding parts for basset horn. The voices of soprano and tenor are involved, even in a duet (Aria de Torrente). This album is indebted to Nico Bertelli for his research and publications concerning classical and early romantic arias with clarinet, and to Italian researcher Adriano Amore.   Giuseppe Donizetti (a.k.a. Donizetti Pasha) was Gaetano Donizetti's older brother. He was a talented child and received lessons from Simon Mayr, the same teacher as his brother. In 1825, he became music master of an Austrian regiment stationed in Italy. In 1831, the Turkish sultan asked him to form the military band of his empire along the Central European lines. He managed to win great esteem and favour from the sultan, transferring the musical style of Italian music to the shores of the Bosporus with great success. He died in Constantinople on 12 February 1856. Giuseppe Donizetti wrote a large amount of music for military bands in many different combinations, but only a few of those works reached his homeland. There are also some vocal works and shorter piano pieces, published in Milan and Florence. - Recorded September 2023 in Cesano Maderno and in Ticino, Italy - Booklet in English contains liner notes by Luigi Magistrelli and profiles of the soloists and the ensemble - A delightful program of works featuring the clarinet in various settings by Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848), one of the greatest opera composers of 19th century Italy, and his brother Giuseppe Donizetti (1788-1856), who was a military music master of an Austrian regiment stationed in Italy. In 1831 the Turkish Sultan asked him to form his empire's military band along central European lines. He was able to gain high esteem and favor from the Sultan, transferring the musical style of Italian music on the shores of the Bosphorus with great success. He died in Constantinople on 10 February 1856. - The program is highly varied and ranges from works for solo clarinet to arias for voices, clarinet and piano, and a wind sextet. Brilliantly performed by Luigi Magistrelli, one of the leading clarinet players of Italy, seconded by a fine selection of Italian soloists. Magistrelli made many recordings for Brilliant Classics with works by C.P.E. Bach (95307), Giuliani (95541), Kummer (94472), Archduke Rudolph (94952), Rebay (94171) and Fuchs (96305). 'Luigi Magistrelli is a skilled artist, with the fingers and the enthusiasm for Weber.' Gramophone.

Known primarily as a prolific opera composer, Gaetano Donizetti also wrote nearly 300 songs, which were destined for intimate gatherings of friends, professionals and wealthy amateurs. Though Donizetti was seemingly blase about his songs, they contain much of interest. Their melodic beauty and structural surety are invariably captivating, whether in ballades or canzonettas, theatrical ariettas, or poignant love laments. Setting poets from Pietro Metastasio to his contemporaries allowed Donizetti full rein to explore a wide variety of subject matter with wit, sentiment, long vocal lines, and quasi-orchestral piano accompaniment. A digital-only single of Lamento per la morte di V. Bellini is also available to stream and download (9.70399).

Discover the allure of Gran Teatro La Fenice, one of Italy's most iconic theatres and among Europe's grandest opera houses. Known for hosting groundbreaking opera premieres in the 19th century, La Fenice has staged legendary works from the masters of the Bel Canto era-Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi. Each year, a quarter-million visitors from around the globe are drawn to this historic venue, while the Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro La Fenice now perform worldwide, including a celebrated appearance at Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie in July 2024. Now, Teatro La Fenice proudly presents a collection of it's finest opera recordings from the past 30 years, available for the first time on CD. Featuring between 10 and 15 carefully selected operas each year, these recordings bring the magic of La Fenice's world-renowned performances to your home. Indulge in the timeless beauty of Italian opera at it's best.

Franco Corelli, along with Mario Del Monaco and Carlo Bergonzi, is universally recognized as the greatest Italian tenor of the last century. This edition of his performances is based primarily on the early recordings he made for the Italian Cetra and includes a selection of great scenes from his repertoire, including a crucial, high-quality live version of Don Carlo, which Corelli never recorded in a studio.