Donizetti: Linda di Chamounix

This page lists all recordings of Linda di Chamounix, by Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) on CD, DVD & download (MP3 & FLAC). Generally, more recent releases are listed first, but with priority given to those that are in stock.

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Donizetti: Linda di Chamounix

Donizetti: Linda di Chamounix

Live Recording from The Zurich Opera House, 1996


Edita Gruberova (Linda), Deon Van Der Walt (Carlo), Jacob Will (Il Marchese di boisfleury) & László Polgár (Il Prefetto)

Zurich Opera House, Adam Fischer (conductor) & Daniel Schmid (stage director)

With Linda di Chamounix Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848) has created wonderful, inspired music. Donizetti’s unfailing attention to the last detail becomes apparent in his numerous revisions of the work, the cuts and the new arrangement of the overture, which he had initially composed as a short prelude but had then developed further, to suit the taste of the Viennese.

For the performance at the Zurich opera, the producer Daniel Schmid changed the sentimental story into an ironical post-card idyll and thus achieved a modern note. The story is now set in a snow-white mountainous region where passions develop slowly. Removed from their familiar environment, the characters lose their connection with reality and become aggressive or insane. Apart from Edita Gruberova there is hardly anyone who could express this insanity better – at the premiere in 1842 it was the soprano Eugenia Tadolini. Everything around her turns into decoration. The roles of the jealous lover Carlo Deon Van der Walt, the Marchese Jacob Will and the Prefect László Polgár are superbly cast. Under the baton of Adam Fischer, the orchestra of the Zürich opera plays in strict rhythm and with melodic delicateness.

Sound Format: PCM Stereo, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1

Picture Format: 4:3

DVD Format: DVD 5 + DVD 9, NTSC

Subtitle Languages: IT (Original Language), GB, DE, FR, ES

Running Time: 164 mins

FSK: 0

“A interesting pastoral melodrama, given a committed performance by everyone involved” BBC Music Magazine, August 2012 ***

“Gruberova has an appealing lightness and vocal flexibility allied to good legato, variety of tone and good expression. She has the ability to sound young and girlish without being tweety...Van der Walt’s singing throughout is tasteful and expressive with just the right amount of edge to give the required dramatic impetus or ardent inflection.” MusicWeb International, August 2012

DVD Video

Region: 0

Format: NTSC

Arthaus Musik - 107337

(DVD Video)

$34.00

Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days.

Donizetti: Linda di Chamounix

Donizetti: Linda di Chamounix


Antonietta Stella (Linda), Cesare Valletti (Carlo), Giuseppe Taddei (Antonio), Fedora Barbieri (Pierotto), Rina Corsi (Maddalena), Renato Capecchi (Marchese di Boisfleury)

Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro di San Carlo di Napoli, Tullio Serafin

Serafin revived many bel canto operas, including those by Donizetti, and was a leading interpreter of Italian opera of all periods.

Recorded September 1956.

Historical Recordings - up to 25% off

Preiser - PR20056

(CD - 2 discs)

Normally: $17.50

Special: $14.87

Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days.

Donizetti: Linda di Chamounix

Donizetti: Linda di Chamounix


Margerita Carosio (Linda); Gianni Raimondi (Viscount Sirval); Giuseppe Modesti (Prefect); Giuseppe Taddei (Antonio); Rina Corsi (Pierotto); Varlo Badioli (Boisfleury)

RAI Milan, Alfredo Simonetto

Recorded 1953

Historical Recordings - up to 25% off

Walhall - WLCD0128

(CD - 2 discs)

Normally: $15.25

Special: $12.20

Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days.

Donizetti: Linda di Chamounix

Donizetti: Linda di Chamounix


Margherita Carosio, Gianni Raimondi, Giuseppe Modesti, Giuseppe Taddei, Alfredo Simonetto

Live recording, Milan, 1953

Bongiovanni Historical Opera Collection - HOC017/18

(CD - 2 discs)

$20.50

Usually despatched in 8 - 10 working days.

Donizetti: Linda di Chamounix

Donizetti: Linda di Chamounix


Eglise Gutiérrez (Linda), Ludovic Tézier (Antonio), Stephen Costello (Carlo), Marianna Pizzolato (Pierotto), Alessandro Corbelli (Marchese de Boisfleury), Bálint Szabó, Elizabeth Sikora (Maddalena), Luciano Botelho (Intendant)

Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Sir Mark Elder

One of the biggest successes of Donizetti’s career, Linda di Chamounix was performed all over the operatic world in the decades following its 1842 Viennese premiere, then fell into neglect. The live concert performances recorded by Opera Rara at Covent Garden, in 2009, were its first there since 1887.

This is one of Donizetti’s finest achievements, aimed at the musically sophisticated Viennese public and featuring some of his best arias, ensembles and choruses, including the brilliant soprano showpiece ‘O luce di quest’anima’; in this semi-seria opera this much-admired aria is sung by Linda (Eglise Gutiérrez), who has fallen in love with Carlo (Stephen Costello – a recent Richard Tucker Award winner) believing him to be a painter, though he is in reality a nobleman. Packed off to Paris to stop her falling into the clutches of his uncle, the dubious Marchese de Boisfleury (Alessandro Corbelli), Linda is discovered in compromising circumstances by her father Antonio (Ludovic Tézier), who curses her, causing her to lose her reason. Supported by the loyal Pierotto (Marianna Pizzolato), Linda returns to Chamounix and sanity and, eventually, to the arms of the man she loves. Sir Mark Elder conducts the recent critical edition of this outstanding score.

The 3CD set comes with a lavishly illustrated book including a complete libretto with an English translation, comprehensive article and synopsis by the eminent 19th-century musical scholar, Jeremy Commons.

“Dramatically conducted by Elder, the ROH casts the opera without a weak link. Eglise Gutierrez’s soprano shines most in her glittering high notes; Stephen Costello’s elegant, Italianate Carlo is youthful enough to retain sympathy; the contrasting serious and buffo bass parts of Linda’s father, Antonio, and the Marquis are superbly taken by Ludovic Tézier and Alessandro Corbelli...All in all, the strongest possible case for reviving this unjustly neglected piece.” Sunday Times, 22nd May 2011 ****

“Mark Elder's conducting is punchy and delicate by turns, the chorus and orchestra responding to his vigilant control of dynamics...The best performance comes from Alessandro Corbelli, in a part that could have been written for him. Ludovic Tezier spins a beautiful proto-Verdian line as Linda's father, and Balint Szabo is his equal ...As a whole the performance does the composer proud.” Gramophone Magazine, August 2011

“What this recording of 2009 concert performances at Covent Garden underlines is that it contains some of the mature Donizetti’s most refined and melancholic music...Mark Elder conducts a characteristically stylish performance. Eglise Gutiérrez has the musicality to impress in the title role, and Stephen Costello makes an attractive Carlo – a valuable addition to Opera Rara’s Italian series.” Financial Times, 16th July 2011 ****

“[Elder] infuses the whole performance with conviction, right from the rather impressive overture...All the singers are up to their roles, and the playing of the orchestra is bold; even the most conventional passages sweep you along. This opera has been recorded before, but not to this standard. It's hard to imagine this set ever being replaced, or even rivalled.” BBC Music Magazine, August 2011 *****

“Alessandro Corbelli, seasoned as he is, is in his element...As they are so good, it would be unfair to say that Gutierrez rises above her colleagues, except in range, but her singing deserves full praise...Stephen Costello produces a clear voice, without strain and well supported...The chorus, orchestra and conductor join the singers in making this a set to captivate bel canto enthusiasts.” International Record Review, October 2011

GGramophone Magazine

Editor's Choice - August 2011

BBC Music Magazine

Opera Choice - August 2011

BBC Music Magazine Awards 2012

Opera Finalist

Opera Rara - ORC43

(CD - 3 discs)

$47.50

(also available to download from $35.50)

In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.

Donizetti: Linda di Chamounix

Donizetti: Linda di Chamounix


Edita Gruberova, Don Bernardini, Monika Groop, Ettore Kim, Stefano Palatchi, Anders Melander, Ulrika Precht, Klas Hedlund

Mikaeli Chamber Choir, Members of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Freidrich Haider

Nightingale - NC0705612

(CD - 3 discs)

$22.75

In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.

Donizetti: Linda di Chamounix

Donizetti: Linda di Chamounix


Koor van de Nationale Reisopera, Orchestra of Eastern Netherlands, Gabriele Bellini

Arts - 471512

(CD - 3 discs)

$29.25

In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day.

Donizetti: Linda di Chamounix

Donizetti: Linda di Chamounix

Recorded: Sept. 11-13th, 2009 at Teatro Sociale di Bergamo


Majella Cullagh (Linda), Roberto Iuliano (Carlo Visconte di Sirval), Chiara Chialli (Pierotto), Giuseppe Altomare (Antonio), Alessandra Fratelli (Maddalena), Maurizio Leoni (Il Marchese di Boisfleury) & Simone Del Savio (Il Prefetto)

Orchestra & Chorus Bergamo Musica Festival Gaetano Donizetti, Clemente Vito

Linda di Chamounix is one of Donizetti most favourite semiseria operas. The opera contains one of Donizetti’s most dazzling scores, with many showpiece arias. Dynamic are proud to have internationally renowned Irish soprano Majella Cullagh in the leading role.

Dynamic - CDS652/1-3

(CD - 3 discs)

$36.75

(also available to download from $26.50)

Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.)

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