We’re delighted to announce today that both our Artistic Director Carlo Rizzi and our recording of Donizetti’s L’esule di Roma which he conducted have been nominated at this year’s International Opera Awards. Nominated in the Best Conductor and Best Recording (Complete Opera) categories, the winners will be announced on 2 October in Munich.
We were also so happy to see nominations for both our Artist Ambassadors Ermonela Jaho and Michael Spyres, Katia Ledoux – the star of our recent Salon Series recital which was streamed on YouTube, and Rosa Feola – who joins us for our Donizetti Song Project this autumn.
To celebrate the nominations, we’re offering a 15% discount off all our recordings with Carlo for one month until 2 October. These include L’esule di Roma, Mercadante’s Il proscritto, Leoncavallo’s Zingari and the recital albums Écho and Espoir.
Use the code IOA2024 via our website for all CD and digital download purchases here.
Our Recording of the Month is Offenbach’s Fantasio for which we won the 2015 Best Complete Opera Recording at the International Opera Awards.
Perhaps one of the least known of Offenbach’s lyric works, Fantasio only received a further 10 performances after its premiere in Paris in 1872. Featuring Brenda Rae, Victoria Simmonds, Aled Hall and Neil Davies, our revival recorded with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment uses the critical edition by Jean-Christophe Keck with whom we also collaborated with on La Princesse de Trébizonde most recently.
The title role is sung by Sarah Connolly described by Das Opernglas as ‘abundantly-timbred and effortless’.
Head over to our YouTube channel here to listen to the rousing ‘Vive le roi!’ as well as to discover more about this opera:
We’re looking to fill the role of Development and Events Coordinator starting this autumn.
Working closely with the Development and Communications Director, the Development and Events Coordinator will be responsible for managing and delivering regular cultivation and stewardship events, stewardship communications and donor relations.
They will also provide project management and admin support to the wider Development and Communications team including Opera Rara’s Philanthropy Manager, Marketing Consultant and Press, PR and Social Media Consultant.
Based at Opera Rara’s offices in Battersea Park, the Development and Events Coordinator will also serve as the main contact for Opera Rara’s external communications and look after Opera Rara’s online store.
If this sounds of interest, click here to find out more.
Our July Recording of the Month is Donizetti’s Roberto Devereux featuring Nelly Miricioiu as Elisabetta captured live at the Royal Opera and Ballet in 2002.
The lives of British monarchs from Alfred the Great to the Tudors and Stuarts held a special fascination for 19th century composers – none more so than Gaetano Donizetti who wrote seven operas involving English kings and queens.
As The Guardian noted at the time of the release: ‘Central to the success of this new set is the singing of the fine, characterful soprano Nelly Miricioiu as Elizabeth… she gives a most moving account of the queen.’
Head over to our YouTube channel here to listen to Elisabetta’s aria ‘Quel sangue versato al cielo sinnalza’ as well as to discover more about this opera:
We’re delighted to announce our second YouTube stream going live on 28 July, featuring Katia Ledoux and Anna Tilbrook recorded last month at London’s Inner Temple Parliament Chamber.
Presented in partnership with Temple Music Founation, our Salon Series recital featured rare Donizetti songs alongside other rareties such as Clémence de Grandval’s Le Galop which Katia first brought to our attention and Pauline Viardot’s beautiful Lamento available to watch now.
More details of the livestream via the link here and head to our events page to explore the rest of our 2024/25 Salon Series recitals which have just gone on sale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyqQ-Jt0KHM
We’re delighted to announce that today the OPUS KLASSIK Awards named our studio release of Offenbach’s La Princesse de Trébizonde as its Opera Recording of the Year. This is the second international award we’ve won for our latest Offenbach release after being named Best Opera Recording at the OPER! Awards 2024 at the start of the year. Our recording was also a finalist in the 2024 International Classical Music Awards. In 2019, we won the same OPUS KLASSIK Award for our recording of Rossini’s Semiramide.
Recorded with London Philharmonic Orchestra and French opera specialist conductor Paul Daniel, our September 2023 release of Offenbach’s comic operetta marked the premiere studio recording of musicologist Jean-Christophe Keck’s new critical edition of the three-act Paris version from December 1869. The recording also includes previously unpublished extracts from the original two-act Baden-Baden version first heard in July 1869.
Our June Recording of the Month is Donizetti’s first grand opera Les Martyrs starring Joyce El-Khoury as Pauline and Michael Spyres as Polyceute.
Recorded in 2014, with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment led by Sir Mark Elder, our award-winning recording was based on a new critical edition of the score by Dr. Flora Willson who recently presented our first live stream from the Wigmore Hall. Not only did Flora restore the opera’s original French text but she also worked on reinstating numerous musical passages that had not been heard since the opera’s first performance in Paris in 1840.
Head over to our YouTube channel here to listen to Pauline’s joyous aria ‘Severe existe!… un dieu sauveur… ‘ as well as to discover more about this opera:
On 2 November 2024, we’ll be returning to Wigmore Hall for our third ‘Donizetti and Friends’ recital with Italian soprano Rosa Feola accompanied by our Artistic Director Carlo Rizzi at the piano. As a part of our multi-year Donizetti Song Project, the recital features lost and forgotten songs by Gaetano Donizetti as well as selections by his contemporaries:
Of our most recent recital at Wigmore Hall featuring our Artist Ambassador Ermonela Jaho, The Daily Telegraph said: Ermonela Jaho proved – exquisitely – that Italian composers can do song as well as the French and Germans
Our exploration of rare Donizetti songs continues in spring 2025 when we are joined by our Artist Ambassador Michael Spyres and Canadian mezzo-soprano Marie-Nicole Lemieux at London’s Cadogan Hall for an evening of French songs by Donizetti and Berlioz:
Our latest release of L’esule di Roma by Donizetti has received many reviews in the press to date including being picked as Editor’s Choice in Limelight magazine:
Musical standards are as we have come to expect from the label. Carlo Rizzi, now well into his stride as the company’s artistic director, brings powerful theatrical instincts to bear on the score, keeping the action on the boil while shaping the music’s emotional ebb and flow and guiding singers through the opera’s thoughtful soliloquies.
What intensity baritone Nicola Alaimo brings to the mad descent of Murena with extraordinarily clear diction and expression. Opéra magazine
As it is custom, Opera Rara brings together a team of more than capable singers, always very well prepared when it comes to matters of style… Well-pitched and of healthy voice, Lluís Calvet i Pey who sings Publio is certainly a career one should follow… The Opera Rara Chorus, prepared by Stephen Harris, displays beautiful colours and… Britten Sinfonia sounds impeccable. Carlo Rizzi knows the Italian repertoire well and draws out all the Donizettian melodies with love. Let us highlight, in fact, his stupendous work in everything that concerns the preludes to each scene or certain phrases that, entrusted to the orchestra, sets the tone of this tragic story. Mundo Clásico
Tenor Sergey Romanovsky is again outstanding here. His liquid delivery, solid legato and engaging timbre underline Settimio’s romantic allure… Albina Shagimuratova’s pure and attractive soprano is distinguished by a penetrating metallic quality that underlines Argelia’s strength and resolve. The young Catalan baritone Lluís Calvet i Pey brings a smoothness of tone to the role of Publio… In every mood, the Britten Sinfonia under Carlo Rizzi plays with clarity and warm orchestral tone. The Opera Rara Chorus too performs their duties with verve and elegance. American Record Guide
The score is fresh and dramaturgically intelligent in a way which should impress connoisseurs. This impression is thanks in part to the rich sound colours produced by Carlo Rizzi and Britten Sinfonia. As was the case in Donizetti’s Il Paria, Albina Shagimuratova stands out: her voice is agile, secure and expressive. No less convincing is Sergey Romanovsky as the titular ‘l’esule di Roma’.Opernwelt
Maestro Carlo Rizzi’s Italianate ‘light touch’ is put to great use in the belcanto genre of Donizetti… And what a combination the leading stars make: each scene and aria outshining the previous, giving the opera a sense of unrelenting drama, with no feeling of drift or dullness, just an immersion into the fate of the exile, and the pain of internal exile, in the stifling atmosphere of Tiberius’s citadel.The Brazen Head
L’esule di Roma is Opera Rara’s latest successful reclamation… Sergey Romanovsky brings many expressive details to some of the opera’s best music and most introspective soliloquies. Much the same can be said of Albina Shagimuratova’s Argelia, who projects great emotional depth in the aria ‘Morte! Ah pria che l’una uccidi’… Conductor Carlo Rizzi is no Donizetti apologist. Never are the orchestral gestures inflated to make the music seem imposing in the fashion of later composers. Lightness and firm but flexible pulse keep the opera moving along… Gramophone
Listening is all the more enjoyable as the work is performed by fine performers… Sergey Romanovsky plays a gently melancholic Settimio who does not fear bravura passages. A beautiful voice and a beautiful interpretation. Albina Shagimuratova as his beloved, torn between love for the exile and loyalty to her father, has a completely personal tone which makes her very touching. As for Nicola Alaimo who plays the tortured father, his clear bass voice adapts wonderfully to Rossinian coloraturas and Donizettiian cantilenas… Lluís Calvet i Pey, Kezia Bienek and André Henriques happily complete this cast… The Opera Rara Chorus, well prepared by Stephen Harris, as well as Britten Sinfonia conducted by Carlo Rizzi are key to the success of this recording… In short, a ‘tasty’ box set, exciting for enthusiasts and very enjoyable for all bel canto lovers. Musicologie
Conductor Carlo Rizzi nails the various tones presented by Donizetti in his experimental phase… The outstanding Nicola Alaimo depicts the conflict of Murena… moving virtuosically between bel canto lightness and impressive power, the registers are perfectly blended, and the mad scene is one of the highlights of this recording. The unfairly slandered Settimio is in the best hands with tenor Sergey Romanovsky. He creates the original melodies with ingenuity and an appealing timbre; his voice blends very pleasantly with those of his partners in the ensembles… For any Donizetti lover, this recording is a welcome addition to the catalogue. OPER! Disc of the Month
Carlo Rizzi paces the performance with skill and Nicola Alaimo sings Murena with gusto, relishing the mood swings. Sergey Romanovsky is Settimio, his tenor robust yet sweet when spinning a long phrase. It is a skill shared by Albina Shagimuratova as Argelia. Opera Now
Once again, Opera Rara places Donizetti admirers in its debt… Throughout, Albina Shagimuratova proves an accomplished exponent of that role, up to each and every one of its copious technical demands… Written for Luigi Lablache, the opera’s leading role is that of Murena, delivered here by Nicola Alaimo with grand-scale lyricism that equally encompasses the complexity of the internally divided character… The tenor Sergey Romanovsky shows considerable sensitivity as Settimio, his tone ineffably sweet and his musicality exceptional. The nobility of the blameless Publio is finely conveyed by the baritone Lluís Calvet i Pey. Smaller roles are well taken by Kezia Bienek and André Henriques, and both Opera Rara’s hardworking chorus and the versatile Britten Sinfonia are well up to the standards listeners expect in the series. Few conductors, meanwhile, can manage the blend of perfect control and stylishness provided by Carlo Rizzi – a master in this repertoire as in much else. Opera
The cast is superb… First and foremost, Nicola Alaimo is a formidable Murena… Carlo Rizzi is at the helm of Britten Sinfonia and leads with unerring steadfastness. OperaWire
Here, baritone Nicola Alaimo draws a nuanced and sympathetic portrait of Murena… whilst Sergey Romanovsky makes good work of Settimio. His lithe, energetic tenor brings conviction to the role… As Argelia, Albina Shagimuratova’s coloratura soprano voice has a dense, steely quality that initially sounds harsh but then uncoils to reveal a bright flexibility of tone… The Opera Rara Chorus articulates well, and Britten Sinfonia plays Donizetti’s score with vigour and sensitivity under the assured hand of conductor Carlo Rizzi. BBC Music Magazine
Having Carlo Rizzi as Artistic Director is a guarantee of bel canto fidelity. He has perfect command of all the stylistic resources and knows how to transmit them to the orchestra and singers. Even in the most lyrical or sentimental passages he does not allow himself to be carried away, and by placing the accents exactly where they should be to ensure precise intensity, he does not let the tension of the pulse decline at any point. And in the most dramatic passages (of which this opera abounds), he conducts the music with energy and incisive accentuation without ever losing control or balance. His way of breathing with the singers is outstanding. Britten Sinfonia plays with transparency and flexibility and the Opera Rara Chorus sings with great precision… Sergey Romanovsky has the perfect voice for the role of Settimio… and Albina Shagimuratova’s coloratura soprano voice is outstanding in its timbre, agility but also delicacy and poetry… Nicola Alaimo is also an impeccable performer… and his guilt-ridden soliloquies are incredible.Scherzo
Nicola Alaimo sings with elegance and his dramatic commitment is flawless… Sensitive and romantic as can be, Sergey Romanovsky is a magnificent Donizettian, as comfortable in elegy as in heroic brilliance. As the touching Argelia, Albina Shagimuratova astonishes with the flexibility of her rich and vibrant soprano, even in the high notes… Finally, one must highlight the expressive baritone of Lluís Calvet i Pey as Publio… Under the enthusiastic baton of Carlo Rizzi, the Opera Rara Chorus and Britten Sinfonia perform with passion, but Rizzi also takes care of the recitatives without ever losing the dramatic tension.Diapason
Donizetti’s engaging score holds my interest from start to finish. Conductor Carlo Rizzi draws out the lyricism of the music and ensures that it never drags. The exquisitely played instrumental solos frequently command attention. Clearly well prepared by chorus master Stephen Harris, the Opera Rara Chorus is resilient and unified voice, making a considerable impact… Praise is due to Opera Rara for this valuable Donizetti project that revives an opera overlook for far too long and is presented here in the best possible light. MusicWeb International
Carlo Rizzi galvanizes his troops by injecting effective dramaturgical electricity into his interpretation of the score. There is no downtime with this perfectly efficient management of the music… We particularly salute the excellence of Albina Shagimuratova as Argelia and Nicola Alaimo as Murena. The choral and orchestral forces also perform with impeccable integrity.Crescendo
The creative team at Opera Rara are experts at mining gems from the archive of rarely-performed Donizetti operas – the 27th so far – and have unearthed another sparkling example here… Murena is one of Donizetti’s great bass-baritone roles and Nicola Alaimo is splendid in voice – smoothly produced even under stress with no hectoring – and in portrayal of a decent man who has betrayed his values. Sergey Romanovsky (Settimio) is an ardent lover, mellifluous with a little touch of tenor steel, matched by the passionate and well-sung Argelia of Albina Shagimuratova. The smaller parts are taken by an excellent team of young singers, there’s admirable support from the Opera Rara Chorus and the Britten Sinfonia all marshalled with his usual expertise. and feel for the repertoire, by conductor Carlo Rizzi. The recording – made at Fairfield Hall, Croydon last year – has splendid body and presence. Midlands Music Reviews
The role of Murena was created by Luigi Lablache, an exceptional artist who later created the role of Giorgio in I puritani. It is therefore not surprising that some of the most beautiful pages of this opera, and in any case the most original, are reserved for the bass; Nicola Alaimo responds perfectly to this double vocal and dramatic challenge. His Rossinian technique gives him the flexibility and virtuosity required… As in the previous recording of Il proscritto, we will salute the quality of this recording which combines the urgency of the stage and the perfection of the studio. Carlo Rizzi’s direction is once again electrifying while remaining attentive to the singers. The Opera Rara Chorus and the Britten Sinfonia respond ideally to this dynamic and passionate approach. Forum Opéra
Excellent casting, strong chorus, passionate playing from Britten Sinfonia conducted by Carlo Rizzi who seems an ideal guide to this restored Donizetti rarity. As one reviewer of the concert performance put it ‘music archaeology is seldom as successful as this.’ BBC Radio 3 Record Review
Opera Rara has added another precious jewel to its spectacular series of unjustly forgotten treasures… Carlo Rizzi highlights the general neoclassical structure of score with great skill without neglecting all the innovative aspects of the work. In this he is helped by a formidable Britten Sinfonia… the splendid Opera Rara Chorus, masterfully directed by Stephen Harris, add with equal enthusiasm to the creation of this incredible performance. All the interpreters are up to the arduous tasks required of them… The recording is excellent from every point of view. Opera Libera
Donizetti’s music intensifies considerably as the action progresses and, after a beautiful lyrical opening aria for Settimio, his duet with Argelia showcases the composer at his best. It is however the large trio above all which closes the first act and replaces the usual concertante finale which constitutes the most original moment in the opera… Under the direction of Carlo Rizzi, the Opera Rara Chorus and the Britten Sinfonia do full justice to Donizetti’s refined orchestration and dramatic flair. As always, with Opera Rara, the edition is particularly careful with two essays on the work itself and its historical and aesthetic context. A truly exciting discovery. L’Avant-Scène Opéra
Albina Shagimuratova as Argelia combines a beautifully clear timbre with beautiful technique… the exile of the title is in excellent hands with Sergey Romanovsky… however, the honorary award goes to Nicola Alaimo. He combines his beautifully full voice and his excellent bel canto technique with a great degree of authority… The other roles are also excellently performed, and, under the direction of Carlo Rizzi, the Opera Rara Chorus and the Britten Sinfonia give the performance a solid foundation, probably partly thanks to the concert performance that preceded it. The recording itself sounds beautifully full and with a lot of atmosphere… All in all, yet another gem in the series of musical discoveries that we owe to Opera Rara.Opus Klassiek
Opera Rara present L’esule di Roma with all the available forces of choir and orchestra, and with three superlative singers Nicola Alaimo, Albina Shagimuratova, and Sergey Romanovsky… Carlo Rizzi offers an excellent performance with the Britten Sinfonia who sound brilliant… and the result of the Opera Rara Chorus’ preparation is evident in how well together and in tune they are in the larger choral scenes… So all in all, a perfect recording from every point of view and one which should be relistened to many times to appreciate it in full. Il Trillo Parlante
At Opera Rara, bel canto gets every chance to shine. The Britten Sinfonia provides an inspiring instrumental contribution that does full justice to the mass scenes, but especially the more intimate moments. Praise also for the Opera Rara Chorus for its expressive contribution… Nicola Alaimo reveals how Murena is really one of the composer’s most beautiful roles for bass-baritones… The radiant tenor voice of Sergey Romanovsky is a great match for the impressive and endearing Albina Shagimuratova… Enjoy this heavenly music. Gelderlander
Another big thank you to the British company Opera Rara which adds to its catalogue its 27th complete opera revival by Donizetti… Leading the cast is Nicola Alaimo who embodies his character of the Senator Murena… Opera Rara’s Artistic Director Carlo Rizzi conducts with great energy. L’ingenieur-constructeur
