Bologna

Gaetano Donizetti opera's La Favorita originally had a French libretto and the title La Favorite. One of Donizetti’s finest music dramas, it was written at his peak as an orchestrator. The Italian, and better-known version, evolved two years after the French premiere and has become the more-performed version, exemplified by this famous 1974 recording starring Luciano Pavarotti, Fiorenza Cossotto, Gabriel Bacquier and Nicolai Ghiaurov. Pavarotti's voice has been called "youthful and fresh" on this album. Pavarotti's frequent collaborator Richard Bonynge conducts the Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale, Bologna.

The overtures are performed by the Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, which has played a seminal role in the Rossini renaissance of the last three decades. From the moment they were performed, Gioachino Rossini’s overtures have enjoyed the status of colourful, elegant orchestral showpieces. With their sweet cantilene, their rich harmonies, their brilliant orchestration, and their powerful and exciting rhythmic drive, these overtures encapsulate all that was modern, exhilarating and electrifying in Rossini’s music, yet maintain their freshness and attraction to modern audiences.

«Sembra ieri quando sono sceso per la prima volta nel ventre della mia città e ho scoperto un'altra Bologna, piú vera e reale di quella che splende alla luce del sole» (Loriano Macchiavelli). Torna in libreria un episodio della serie di Sarti Antonio, l'amatissimo personaggio creato dal maestro del noir italiano. È ambientato in una Bologna inedita e affascinante, e trascina il lettore in un'inchiesta piena di colpi di scena. Nelle acque dell'antico approdo del Battiferro viene trovato il cadavere di Zodiaco Mainardi, detto Oroscopo, collega del sergente Sarti Antonio. L'uomo prestò servizio in Sicilia, e pare aver avuto rapporti con la mafia; nella sua casa c'è un pacco di droga. Sarti Antonio però non è solito arrivare a conclusioni affrettate, per questo comincia un'indagine che lo costringe a fare i conti con potere politico, curia e magistratura..

The overtures are performed by the Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, which has played a seminal role in the Rossini renaissance of the last three decades. From the moment they were performed, Gioachino Rossini’s overtures have enjoyed the status of colourful, elegant orchestral showpieces. With their sweet cantilene, their rich harmonies, their brilliant orchestration, and their powerful and exciting rhythmic drive, these overtures encapsulate all that was modern, exhilarating and electrifying in Rossini’s music, yet maintain their freshness and attraction to modern audiences.

This is a brilliant recording of musical masterpieces, mostly by unknown Italian Baroque composers from the famous Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna, founded in 1666. Among the composers are Giuseppe Torelli, Giacomo Antonio Perti, Lorenzo Gaetano Zavateri (1690–1764) and Giuseppe Matteo Alberti (1685–1751).

Best album of 1988 according to WIRE's and GUARDIAN's critic polls and number five according to DOWN BEAT.

Live in Bologna is a live album by Cecil Taylor recorded in Bologna on November 3, 1987 and released on the Leo label. The album features a concert performance by Taylor with Thurman Barker, William Parker, Carlos Ward and Leroy Jenkins.