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“Jesus Lopez-Cobos, the most skilled of Rossini conductors, even matches in rhythmic lift and comic timing the magic example of Vittorio Gui on the classic Glyndebourne recordings of the 1950s...[Florez tackles] the most formidable florid passages with ease and imagination...Stefania Bonfadelli sings with equal fluency” Penguin Guide, 2011 edition | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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Production by Bartlett Sher; recorded in 2011 In spring 2011, the first-ever performances at New York's Metropolitan Opera of Rossini's Le Comte Ory brought standing ovations and critical-acclaim. The spectacular trio of Juan Diego Florez, Diana Damrau and Joyce DiDonato ignited vocal and theatrical fireworks. Le Comte Ory tells the story of a libidinous and cunning nobleman who disguises himself first as a hermit and then as a nun ("Sister Colette") in order to gain access to the virtuous Countess Adele, whose brother is away at the Crusades. The 2011 Met production was directed by the Tony Award-winning Broadway director Bartlett Sher, who in recent years has also staged Il barbiere di Siviglia and Les Contes d'Hoffman for the Met. Sher presented the action as an opera within an opera, updated the action by a few centuries and giving the costume designer, Catherine Zuber, the opportunity to create some particularly extravagant headgear. Juan Diego Florez starred as the title role while Diana Damrau plays his love interest, Countess Adele, and Joyce DiDonato was in breeches as his pageboy Isolier. The trio had appeared in Sher's production of Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia. The New York Times praised "the terrific cast", citing Damrau's "lustrous, agile coloratura soprano voice, and charisma galore" and describing how DiDonato, "who sang with plush sound and impeccable passagework, sent top notes soaring and conveyed all the swagger of a smitten page." The Financial Times named Florez, "a bel-canto paragon virtually without peer. He attacks and/or floats top tones with laughing ease, phrases with slender grace and exudes charm even when impersonating a singing nun". The Wall Street Journal said: "It was a treat to hear Mr. Florez navigate the vocal extremes of the role, popping out high C's while adopting a rascally but winning demeanor." Conducted with verve and finesse by Rossini specialist Maurizio Benini, the production also features the stylish French baritone Stephane Degout as Ory's bibulous conspirator Raimbaud (quite a change from his previous Met role - Debussy's gentle Pelleas), charismatic Italian bass Michele Pertusi as the Count's long-suffering Tutor, and, formidable as Adele's housekeeper Ragonde, the Swedish dramatic mezzo Susanne Resmark. “Sher's production is wise, witty and completely faithful to the spirit of the piece...Damrau is peerless, giving a bravura comic performance made from winks and nudges, heavy theatrical sighing and a heaving bosom. Rossini's music might have been written for her diamond-bright coloratura and gravity-defying top notes. Joyce DiDonato is equally fine...And who could ask for a more winning Ory than Juan Diego Florez?...Delicious.” BBC Music Magazine, June 2012 “Not since Juan Oncina at Glyndebourne in the 1950s has there been a singer better able to cope with the phallocentric Count's stratospheric billings and cooings than Juan Diego Florez. Diana Damrau, a coloratura possessed of breeding as well as presence, makes a superb Countess Adele, and the irrepressible Joyce DiDonato gives a properly testosterone-fuelled performance...Benini directs the Met's Rolls Royce pit band with brisk efficiency.” Gramophone Magazine, July 2012 “What a cast the Met has put together!...[Florez is] handsome, sly and tonally easy...[Damrau] acts with just the right oxymoronic ladylike lust...there seems to be nothing [DiDonato's] voice cannot do and she moves as if she owns the stage...Benini managed to keep the many disparate parts together and leads with great consideration for the singers.” International Record Review, June 2012 “The purity and lightness of Flórez’s voice is astounding...If we ever hear another Ory as good as this then I’ll be very surprised... the sheer security of [DiDonato's] tone is a marvel to behold...Damrau has less form in the bel canto repertoire, but she takes to the virtuoso role of the Countess like a duck to water.” MusicWeb International, July 2012 | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | 11/6/1959
Michel Sénéchal (Le Comte Ory), Raffaele Arié (le Gouverneur), Cora Canne Meyer (Isolier), Robert Massard (Raimbaud), Sari Barabas (Adèle), Monica Sinclair (Ragonde) & Jeannette Sinclair (Alice) Turin RAI, Vittorio Gui | | | Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days. |
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| |  | Set in rural France at the time of the Crusades, Le Comte Ory, Rossini’s last comic opera, is based on the story of a real-life villainous Count who attempts the seduction of a Countess as she awaits the return of her brother
Huw Rhys-Evans, Luca Salsi, Wojtek Gierlach, Linda Gerrard, Gloria Montanari, Luisa Islam-Ali-Zade & Sofia Soloviy Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno & Czech Chamber Soloists Brno, Brad Cohen | | | (also available to download from $10.75) | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.) |
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Language French “On stage Le Comte Ory is indestructibly funny and jam-packed with musical treats. And the French director Jérôme Savary gives it the Glyndebourne 'works' with mechanical cows and sheep safely grazing cut-out hills behind the castle where Countess Adèle has walled herself up with her ladies until their menfolk return from the crusades. Marc Laho as the sex-obsessed Ory may not be as sweet toned as a Rossini tenor should be, and Jane Shaulis's Ragonde, companion to the Countess, is more agile with her wimple than vocally, but both know how to flirt for laughs... Diane Montague is in fine voice as Ory's love-lorn page Isolier, and Annick Massis's Adèle, the object of his affections, has a real feel for Rossini at his tenderest... The young Glyndebourne chorus mug for their lives and make the very best of the music... Glyndebourne always brought out the best in Andrew Davis who conducts like a natural born Rossinian. Brian Large directs the video with his customary self-effacing good taste.” BBC Music Magazine, October 2005 | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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Juan Oncina (Le Comte Ory), Sari Barabas (La Comtesse Adèle), Monica Sinclair (Ragonde), Jeannette Sinclair (Alice), Michel Roux (Raimbaud), Cora Canne-Meijer (Isolier), Ian Wallace (Le Gouverneur) Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra, Vittorio Gui | |
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Live recording, Turin, 11th June 1959 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Rossini - Glyndebourne Productions
This 3-DVD set contains classic Glyndebourne productions of three popular Rossini operas: The Il Barbiere di Siviglia, La Cenerentola, and Le Comte Ory. The effervescence of Rossini’s operas goes very well with the atmosphere of enjoyment that makes an evening at Glyndebourne so special. “The London Philharmonic are in crack form and they have a conductor to take full advantage of their fizzing expertise” The Times | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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