Bononcini, G B: Per la gloria d'adorarvi (from Griselda)

Following his recovery from leukaemia in 1988 the great Spanish tenor José Carreras performed a series of comeback concerts, and this recording presents a collection of excerpts from these very special events. It includes not only operatic arias but also art-songs and items from Zarzuela, revealing the whole broad range of his repertoire.

Spanish tenor José Carreras unquestionably numbers among the most important tenors of the second half of the twentieth century, yet in the consciousness of many people his biography is not only marked by his outstanding artistic achievements. The apparent tragic end of the career of the then 41-year-old singer as a result of a life-threatening illness, his triumph over death, and the entirely unexpected re-commencement of his career as singer have become just as much a part of public memory as the appearances with his tenor colleagues Domingo and Pavarotti who, as ‘The Three Tenors’, delighted an audience of millions throughout the world. José Carerras went on to establish a foundation that has collected millions of euros used to alleviate the suffering of the sick and provide scientists with financial support for their research into leukaemia.

For the first time ever the complete selection of arias which formed the 1970 release of “Romantic French Arias” is available on CD; an extended scene from Act Three of Norma in a live recording from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, from a concert in aid of the Darwin appeal, is included and appears on CD for the first time; and an ever greater bonus is included here with the release FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER of 6 French songs with Richard Bonynge as pianist.