Rossini: La Cenerentola

Cecilia Bartoli both thrills the senses and touches the heart in Rossini's sparkling comedy, her feisty Cinderella combining rebelliousness with pathos, vocal beauty with stunning virtuosity. She and a star cast of Italian principals captivate the Houston audience in this exuberant Bologna production, recorded live in November 1995.

Fizzing with operatic brio, Rossini's ever-popular setting of Cinderella tells the much-loved tale through spectacular arias and irresistible ensembles. Superstar tenor Juan Diego Flórez in his signature role as the Prince, and American star Joyce DiDonato in the title role, lead an outstanding international cast in Joan Font's witty and dazzlingly colourful production - filmed 'live' at Barcelona's Gran Teatre del Liceu.

This Glyndebourne Festival Opera production of Rossini's version of the story of Cinderella is an exciting mixture of comedy, pathos, coloratura fireworks and masquerade. Starring Kathleen Kuhlmann, Laurence Dale, Marta Taddei, and Laura Zannini.

This performance of LA CENERENTOLA was taped at Houston Grand Opera in 1995. The performances marked Cecilia Bartoli's American debut, and as Angelina she completely justified all the "hype" that surrounded her at that time. She sings beautifully and acts nicely, creating a put-upon yet spunky "Cinderella." Opposite Bartoli, Raul Gimenez gives a sincere and sensationally sung Prince Ramiro. His love duet with Bartoli in Act I ("Un soave non so che") is an oasis of calm in a witty Rossinian fairy tale. The supporting cast includes Enzo Dara (Don Magnifico), Alessandro Corbelli (Dandini), and Michele Pertusi (Alidoro, the "fairy godfather"). Corbelli's Dandini has since become famous (a British critic called it one of the finest operatic characterizations of our day), and here one can see why: it is subtle, humorous, and richly sung… By A Customer

“This is a truly marvellous performance on all counts - staging, conducting and singing. Sir Peter Hall… manages to breathe new life into the routines without ever slipping over into farce, while exploring each character in some depth. The sense of an ensemble on top form is underlined by Vladimir Jurowski's exacting, pellucid and vivid interpretation, so that the music, like the libretto, is presented afresh. The superb cast has no weaknesses and many strengths, Ruxandra Donose may not have the idiomatic Italian timbre of Cecilia Bartoli… but she is the more consistent singer, using her wide range and rich tone to startling effect. Her youthful (24-year-old) partner, Russian tenor Maxim Mironov, proves an ideal Ramiro, fluent in every aspect of his role and delivering its appreciable demands in a light, pliant voice of delicate beauty.”(Gramophone)

This is a truly marvellous performance on all counts - staging, conducting and singing. Sir Peter Hall… manages to breathe new life into the routines without ever slipping over into farce, while exploring each character in some depth. The sense of an ensemble on top form is underlined by Vladimir Jurowski's exacting, pellucid and vivid interpretation, so that the music, like the libretto, is presented afresh. The superb cast has no weaknesses and many strengths, Ruxandra Donose may not have the idiomatic Italian timbre of Cecilia Bartoli… but she is the more consistent singer, using her wide range and rich tone to startling effect. Her youthful (24-year-old) partner, Russian tenor Maxim Mironov, proves an ideal Ramiro, fluent in every aspect of his role and delivering its appreciable demands in a light, pliant voice of delicate beauty.

“This is a truly marvellous performance on all counts - staging, conducting and singing. Sir Peter Hall… manages to breathe new life into the routines without ever slipping over into farce, while exploring each character in some depth. The sense of an ensemble on top form is underlined by Vladimir Jurowski's exacting, pellucid and vivid interpretation, so that the music, like the libretto, is presented afresh…”

Gramophone Magazine, May 2006

As part of Deutsche Grammophon’s release of a limited and numbered edition of Claudio Abbado’s complete recordings for DG, Decca and Philips, you can now enjoy Volume 10 in a series of 16 digital albums, which are organised in alphabetical order of composer name. This twelfth digital album presents music by Gioachino Rossini.

The most comprehensive edition devoted to Gioachino Rossini marking his 150th anniversary. Born in 1792, Rossini was the most popular opera composer of his time. Although he retired from the Opera scene in 1829, he continued to compose in other genres, including sacred music, piano and chamber works. He did gather his late works under the ironic title Péchés de vieillesse (Sins of Old Age), which veils a true collection of masterworks.