Rossini's brilliant satirical opera, Il Turco in Italia, is as notable for it's considerable use of ensemble set pieces as for it's many memorable tunes. The plot revolves around the tangled romance of the Turkish nobleman, Selim, on a visit to Naples to experience Italian life at first hand, and of his former mistress, Zaida, with whom he is finally reunited. Among the many highlights is the masterful duet of Geronio and Selim, in which the Turk tries to persuade the ageing husband to sell him his wife, the capricious Fiorilla.

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

During his last decade, Rossini wrote a series of 13 volumes he called Sins of Old Age, of which volume 8 is subtitled Album de ch teau. It contains 12 pieces, each richly characterized.

Rossini's musical wit and zest for comic characterisation have enriched the operatic repertoire immeasurably, and his overtures distil these qualities into works of colourful orchestration, bravura and charm. From his most popular, such as La scala di seta (The Silken Ladder) and La gazza ladra (The Thieving Magpie), to the rarity Matilde of Shabran, the full force of Rossini's dramatic power is revealed in these masterpieces of invention. Each of the four discs in this set has received outstanding international acclaim, with Volum 2 described as "an unalloyed winner" by ClassicsToday , and the Prague Sinfonia Orchestra's playing described as "stunning" by American Record Guide (Volume 3).

ROSSINI: Complete Sonatas for Strings

ROSSINI, G. / BEETHOVEN, L. van / MOZART, W.A. / BIZET, G.:

CLASSICAL MELODIES FOR EASTER - BACH, J.S. / VIVALDI, A. / M

Orchestral Music - ROSSINI, G. / MOZART, W.A. / BERLIOZ, H.

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Also available on standard DVD

Rossini’s comic masterpiece The Barber of Seville was based on Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais’s French play Le Barbier de Séville and is the ultimate opera buffa. The score is a compendium of the composer’s wittiest and most brilliant writing, and includes the famous entrance aria Largo al factotum and a raft of superbly dynamic ensembles. This vibrant and youthful production features Florian Sempey, one of the world’s best Figaros, the ‘Rossini tenor’ Michele Angelini, vivacious and critically admired Catherine Trottmann, and the award-winning team of acclaimed director Laurent Pelly and conductor Jérémie Rhorer who directs his spirited period ensemble Le Cercle de l’Harmonie.

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REVIEW:

The cast are in modern dress but the interaction of characters is so forceful as to sweep away any lurking objections. Add to this some very fine singing, particularly from Michele Angelini’s glorious high tenor as Almaviva, and there is a great deal here to admire and enjoy.

– Lark Reviews

In an age of ultraspecialization that obsesses over minute detail, artists such as Nicola Alaimo remind us that, as elsewhere, in opera versatility is a virtue. The youthful Mr. Alaimo has an impressive CV, broad in scope and variety. His chosen musical home is, of course, 19th century melodrama, ranging from his beloved Rossini, to Bellini, Donizetti and the major works of Verdi. Nonetheless, Mr. Alaimo is thoroughly comfortable with an earlier repertoire comprising Mozart and the Neapolitans, and also with the music of a later era. The giovane scuola had no great love for baritones, but Mr. Alaimo has sung Puccini, Cilea and his Neri Chiaramantesi in Giordano's Cena della beffe made it's mark on opera lovers. The results speak for themselves and his career is there for all to see. Doubters may seek out major venues, conductors or directors where or with whom Nicola Alaimo has not performed- they will not find any, however. Mr. Alaimo has sung Rossini not only all over the world, but also close to home in a long successful partnership with the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro as Dandini in Cenerentola, don Bartolo in The Barber of Seville, Aliprando in Matilde di Shabran, the title role in Guillaume Tell, dom Pomponio in Gazzetta, and the Duke of Ordow in Torvaldo e Dorliska.

Armida was composed as a vehicle for the legendary soprano Isabella Colbran – Rossini’s lover at the time. She changed the composer’s view of what was possible with bel canto – her dynamic force inspiring Rossini’s dramatic intensity. This acclaimed Rossini in Wildbad performance features soprano Ruth Iniesta in the title role and tenor Michele Angelini as the heroic Rinaldo.

Adriano Sebastiani made his recording debut on Brilliant Classics with the songs for voice and guitar of Louis Spohr; here Adrian accompanies the soprano Silvia Vajente in her Brilliant Classics debut. A seasoned performer of this repertoire, Vajente is a past winner of the first Concorso Internazionale di Canto Barocco �Francesco Provenzale� (held in Naples) and the 10th Premio Bonporti International Early Music Competition (in Rovereto, Italy). The Ariettes Italiennes are 8 pieces taken from the Soir�es Musicales, a collection of songs and arias written by the �pensioned� Rossini after his retirement as a highly successful opera composer. They are pure delight, each one written on a certain topic or emotion, full of humour, wit, nostalgia and old age irony and wisdom. The Douze Ariettes Italiennes are written by guitar composer and virtuoso Ferdinando Carulli, on popular and famous themes from Rossini�s operas, elegant and charming, salon music of high distinction and entertainment. Sung by soprano Silvia Vajente, with the right touch of beauty, sentiment and tongue-in-cheek, guitarist Adriano Sebastiani supplying the perfect instrumental foundation.

This disc forms part of Chandos’ ongoing Richard Hickox legacy series. The re-release features Rossini's Stabat Mater, performed by Richard Hickox and the City of London Sinfonia. They are joined by the London Symphony Orchestra Chorus and four excellent soloists: Helen Field, Della Jones, Arthur Davies and Roderick Earle.