Dimitra Theodossiou (Delizia), Ann Taylor (Bonello), Cora Burggraaf (Margarita), Camilla Roberts (Isabella), Dmitry Korchak (Roggero), James Westman (Corrado), Andrew Foster-Williams (Giffredo), Mark Wilde (Albarosa/Knight)
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In this popular series of highlights, Opera Rara selects the best moments from neglected 19th century operas. Each single-disc set is accompanied by a complete libretto, allowing the listener to place the selections in the context of the whole opera.
One of the most popular operatic comedies of the late 19th century was Crispino e la comare (1850) by the Brothers Ricci – Luigi (1805–59) and Federico (1809–77). But as well as collaborating on a number of works, the two pursued separate careers as highly successful composers in Italy and indeed throughout Europe. In 2004, Opera Rara introduced Federico’s music to the Essential Opera Rara series with his moving 1838 melodramma semiserio, La prigione di Edimburgo (ORR228), based on Sir Walter Scott’s The Heart of Midlothian. Now we return to the younger brother for Corrado d’Altamura, a dramma lirico that opened at La Scala in 1841. Set in 12th-century Sicily, the highly dramatic plot tells of betrayal and then revenge between Roggero, the Duke of Agrigento (sung here by Dmitry Korchak) and his former friend and tutor, Corrado (James Westman), to whose daughter, Delizia (Dimitra Theodossiou), Roggero has promised marriage – only to break his vows. The great expert in 19th-century Italian opera Julian Budden thought Federico the more accomplished and versatile of the two brothers, whose serious works, ‘late offshoots of the Bellinian tradition… are worthy to stand beside Mercadante’s’. They have an honoured position in the Opera Rara catalogue.
This is the sixth opera in the Essential Opera Rara series and, once again, a vivid impression of the work is captured on a single disc, accompanied by a complete libretto and article by the eminent 19th century musical scholar, Jeremy Commons.
Federico Ricci: Corrado d'Altamura
Prologue: Prelude and Introduction - Scene 1: Del vino a noi (Chorus) - Scene 2: Il Duce! (Bonello, Giffredo) - Scene 3: Qui meco posa (Isabella, Delizia)
Prologue, Scene 4: Scene and Duet: Io squarciero il sospetto (Delizia, Roggero)
Prologue, Scene 4: Scene and Duet: Troppo, o ingrato! un di t'amai (Delizia, Roggero)
Prologue, Scene 4: Scene and Duet: Io t'ho amata e t'amo ognora (Roggero, Delizia) - Scene 5: Roggero, non farti spergiuro (Giffredo, Delizia, Roggero)
Prologue, Scene 5: Scene and Duet: Dunque ancor m'ami? (Delizia, Roggero)
Act I, Part I: Scene and Aria: O inoperosi giorni! (Corrado, Giffredo)
Act I, Part I: Scene and Aria: L'amo qual s'ama un essere (Corrado)
Act I, Part I: Scene and Aria: E se tradir Delizia (Giffredo, Corrado)
Act I, Part I: Scene and Aria: O ferro, lung'anni nel petto celato (Corrado, Giffredo) - Part II Scene 1: Oh pena! (Delizia, Bonello)
Act I, Part II Scene 1: Scene and Duet: Dio rimerti la parola (Delizia, Bonello) - Scene 2: Godi, o figlia delle grazia (Off-Stage Chorus, Corrado, Delizia, Bonello)
Act I, Part II Scene 3: Finale: O vago fior d'Iberia (Chorus)
Act I, Part II Scene 3: Finale: Oh liete voci! (Margarita, Albarosa, Roggero, Chorus) - Scene 4: V'offriro il mio (Delizia, Chorus, Margarita, Albarosa, Roggero)
Act I, Part II Scene 4: Largo del Finale: O giovinetta, piangere (Delizia, Margarita, Roggero, Isabella, Albarosa, Corrado, Bonello, Giffredo, Chorus)
Act I, Part II Scene 4: Seguito del Stretto del Finale: Ma tu chi sei? (Albarosa, Delizia, Roggero, Corrado, Bonello, Giffredo, Isabella, Margarita … ) - Act II Scenes 1-2: Udiste? (Chorus, Bonello)
Act II Scene 3: Scene and Duet: Giffredo! (Corrado, Giffredo) - Scene 4: Signor! … (Cavaliere, Corrado, Eremita)
Act II Scene 4: Io l'amava sulla terra (Corrado, Eremita)
Act II Scene 4: Scene and Duet: Se foss'egli a me dinante (Corrado, Eremita, Roggero)
Act II Scene 4: Scene and Duet: Vien - dell'atroce ingiuria (Corrado, Roggero)
Act II Scene 5: Preghiera delle Vergina: Nella pace malinconica (Off-Stage Chorus, Delizia) - Scene 6: Ove m'inoltro? (Roggero, Delizia, Chorus)
Act II Scene 6: Scene and Duet: Segui, e concedi a un'ani,a (Roggero) - Scene 7: Oh qual lamento! (Delizia, Roggero)
Act II Scene 7: Scene and Duet: De' miei falli innanzi a Dio (Roggero, Delizia)
Act II Scene 7: Finale: Morte! morte! (Chorus, Roggero, Delizia, Bonello, Women of the Chorus, Giffredo)
Awards Issue 2009
“…Federico Ricci's score is in no way unworthy. …the music has its own individuality - and it confers a sufficient individuality upon the characters too. The tenor here is the young, clear-voiced and stylish Dmitry Korchak. Corrado is James Westman, a baritone well supplied with high A flats for his cabaletta and with a well placed voice sometimes recalling Sherrill Milnes. ...Dimitra Theodossiou... has a comparably strong dramatic instinct. ...the voice is well contrasted with the lighter soprano of Cora Burggraaf who plays Margarita, the "other woman"... Good work by orchestra and chorus under Roland Böer, who shows a sure feeling for the style.”
12th June 2009
***
“Ricci's orchestral writing is remarkably original, and he has a fine sense of theatre. The closing scene, in which Delizia, now a nun, denies Roggero sanctuary in her convent and hands him over to a bloodthirsty lynch mob, has considerable power.”
Prologue: Prelude and Introduction - Scene 1: Del vino a noi (Chorus) - Scene 2: Il Duce! (Bonello, Giffredo) - Scene 3: Qui meco posa (Isabella, Delizia)
