We are delighted to announce the release of Donizetti’s Les Martyrs with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment conducted by Sir Mark Elder and a star cast led by Joyce El-Khoury, Michael Spyres and David Kempster. Find out more on the attached release information sheet.
Join us for a talk and discussion on the fascinating subject of ‘The Prima Donna and Opera’ with Susan Rutherford, Senior Lecturer in Music at the University of Manchester and Opera Rara’s repertoire consultant, Professor Roger Parker on Thursday 21 May 2015, 6.30pm in the Opera Rara Music Library. To secure a place email us at: info@opera-rara.com or call Kim Panter on +44 (0)20 7613 2858 (tickets £15.00, which includes a glass of wine or soft drink). See the attached invitation for further details.
Find out how you can support our recording of Donizetti’s Le Duc d’Albe on the attached leaflet. Help us continue our mission to recover, restore, recording and perform the forgotten operatic heritage of the 19th century.
Opera Rara and the BBC Symphomy Orchestra present
LEONCAVALLO: ZAZA
This November Opera Rara will record its first Leoncavallo opera, Zazà. Written in 1900 some eight years after I Pagliacci, Zazà was once hugely popular but has now fallen out of the repertoire.
On Friday 27 November, Opera Rara and the BBC Symphony Orchestra present a concert staging of Zazà, marking the company’s first venture into the musical world of Leoncavallo and the operatic tradition of verismo. Written in 1900 for the Teatro Lirico di Milano and conducted at its première by Toscanini, Zazà was Leoncavallo’s most popular opera after Pagliacci, the only work for which the composer is currently known. In the 20 years following its première, Zazà received over 50 new productions in opera houses around the world and became the chosen showcase for famous sopranos such as Rosina Storchio, who created the role, and Geraldine Farrar.
Based on the smash hit play by Pierre Breton and Charles Simon – which enjoyed three film adaptations including a 1923 version starring Gloria Swanson – the operais set in contemporary Paris and traces the collapse of the music hall singer Zazà’s relationship when she discovers her lover is married. With its infectious dance tunes and colourful orchestration making use of French popular music styles which Leoncavallo would have encountered in the capital, the verismo of Zazà is a far cry from the harsh, low-life realism of Pagliacci. Yet, where the composer’s first opera remains one of the most performed operatic works today, Zazà has all but fallen out of the repertory.
Opera Rara’s revival of Zazà is based on Leoncavallo’s own 1919 revision of his score which has been carefully researched by their Associate Conductor and Italian opera specialist, Maurizio Benini. Benini leads the BBC Symphony Orchestra in both the recording and concert staging of the opera, in what will be the Orchestra’s third collaboration with Opera Rara. Taking on the challenging soprano role for the first time is Ermonela Jaho who is joined by Riccardo Massi as her lover Milio; Stephen Gaertner as her onstage partner and former lover Cascart; and Patricia Bardon as her mother Anaide.
Tickets available now online from Barbican or Tel: +44 (0)20 7638 8891.
LEONCAVALLO: ZAZÀ
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Maurizio Benini, conductor
Friday 27 November 2015, 7.00pm
BARBICAN
Ermonela Jaho Zazà
Riccardo Massi Milio
Stephen Gaertner Cascart
Patricia Bardon Anaide
David Stout Bussy
Nicky Spence Courtois
Kathyrn Rudge Natalia
Simon Thorpe Duclou
Fflur Wyn Floriana
Julia Ferri Totò
BBC Singers
Renato Balsadonna, Chorus Director
Susannah Waters, Director
Tickets: £40; £34; £26; £18; £12
Box Office: 020 7638 8891
Online: www.barbican.org.uk
Read what the critics have to say about the ‘triumphant’ concert performance of Donizetti’s Les Martyrs given at the Royal Festival Hall on Tuesday 4 November 2014
Mezzo Sarah Connolly (Fantasio) and Soprano Brenda Rae (Elsbeth) joined us at the London Coliseum for the recording launch of Offenbach’s Fantasio. Click here to see them perform the duet ‘Quel murmure charmant’ at the launch.
Find out more about the Opera Rara Picture Archive. Images available for hire and to purchase as Giclée prints.
Our latest release, Donizetti’s Rita, has received a four star review from Andrew Clark in the Financial Times. Find out more.
Opera Rara – 2014 TALKS
We begin our 2014 programme of talks and recitals by hosting two evenings exploring the background of two very different operas Donizetti wrote during his stay in Paris. The talks will be given by Dr Flora Willson (King’s College, Cambridge) and Professor Roger Parker (King’s College London and Opera Rara’s Repertoire Consultant)
Places, at £15.00 per person (includes a glass of wine or soft drink), can be booked directly with Opera Rara:
134-146 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3AR
Tel: +44 (0)20 7613 2858
Email: info@opera-rara.com
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Tuesday 11 February, 6.30pm – Opera Rara Music Library
Donizetti’s Rita
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Thurdsay 20 March, 6.30pm – Opera Rara Music Library
Donizetti’s Les Martyrs
Places are limited so book early.
Our Fantasio concert performance has received some great reviews. Read what the press had to say…
