June’s Composer of the Month is Saverio Mercadante

For the month of June, we’re celebrating Saverio Mercadante. On the 28th of June at the Barbican Hall, Opera Rara return to the works of Mercadante with his Il proscritto, an opera once thought lost that has not been heard since 1842. In celebration of our composer of the month, our recording of Mercadante’s Virginia, a work composed in 1846, is discounted 15%. Follow us on our social media channels for insights into this composer’s works and Opera Rara’s upcoming recording and performance of Mercadante’s Il proscritto.

Born in 1795, Mercadante studied in Naples, attracting the attention of Rossini. His first opera, L’apoteosi d’Ercole, was well received in 1819 at the Teatro San Carlo. Others quickly followed. Having begun in the heyday of Rossini, Mercadante’s career extended well into the middle of Verdi’s. In fact, he was slightly embittered at being eclipsed by Verdi, on whom his music had some influence. He died in 1870, having put his name to close on sixty operas. Read more and see our Mercadante recordings here…