Opera Rara and Britten Sinfonia join forces once again to bring to light another neglected bel canto opera, Donizetti’s L’esule di Roma. Celebrating the 225th anniversary of Gaetano Donizetti’s birth, Opera Rara has restored an opera which is considered a milestone in the composer’s illustrious career. L’esule di Roma is filled with political conspiracy, romantic intrigue and great sacrifice set in Imperial Rome. Vocal fireworks fly in this opera from 1828 with remarkable ensembles, touching arias, and one of the composer’s finest bass-baritone roles.
Carlo Rizzi, Opera Rara’s Artistic Director, leads an all-star cast. Albina Shagimuratova, the Times’ “new queen of bel canto”, returns in the role of Argelia. Nicola Alaimo sings the role of Murena, Argelia’s father conflicted by a choice between the love for his daughter and his service to the Emperor. Sergey Romanovsky sings the role of Settimio, Argelia’s lover who has been condemned to death by her father. The cast is completed by Kezia Bienek in the role of Leontina, Argelia’s friend, and two recent graduates from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama’s opera programme, Lluís Calvet i Pey as the general Publio and André Henriques in the roles of Lucio and Fulvio.
Opera Rara’s mission is to restore neglected operatic masterworks, giving them new life through engaging recordings and concert performances. With over 50 years of operatic archeology, Opera Rara has reshaped how the works of Donizetti and many other composers have been viewed.
“Carlo Rizzi evidently knows every inch of the music, and conducted the excellent Britten Sinfonia with passion and a sense of committed ownership…” – The Daily Telegraph
“Musical archaeology is seldom as successful as this…” – Seen and Heard International
“Albina Shagimuratova: a new queen of bel canto” – The Times
*Please note start time
