March Recording of the Month: Aureliano in Palmira

Revealing our March Recording of the Month: Rossini’s Aureliano in Palmira written when the composer was only 21 (1813) and in the same year he produced three other operas!

Kenneth Tarver is Aureliano with London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Maurizio Benini. The cast is completed by Catriona Smith as Zenobia, Silvia Tro Santa Fé as Arsace, Ezgi Kutlu as Publia, Julian Alexander Smith as Oraspe, Vuyani Mlinde as Licino, Andrew Foster-Williams as The High Priest and the Geoffrey Mitchell Choir.

This world premiere studio recording was releaed in 2011 with Opera News commenting at the time: Kenneth Tarver employs his light lyric tenor to great effect in the title role. He tosses off the high-flying role with ease and purity of tone… Without question, the vocal honours here go to the Arsace, mezzo Silvia Tro Santafé, who contributes a fear less and virtuoso performance that is both fiery and passionate, finding many vocal colours and nuances that illuminate character and emotion.

Rossini lovers will recognise that the overture now available on our YouTube channel was recycled by the composer in a handful of his other scores most notably… Il barbiere di Siviglia!