BBC Symphony Orchestra & David Parry - Donizetti: Caterina Cornaro (2013) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist
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CD1
01. Caterina Cornaro, Prologue: Preludio
02. Caterina Cornaro, Prologue: "Salve o beati, al giubilo" (Coro)
03. Caterina Cornaro, Prologue: "Tu l'amor mio, tu l'iride" (Gerardo, Caterina)
04. Caterina Cornaro, Prologue: "Dell'empia Cipro il popolo" (Mocenigo, Andrea)
05. Caterina Cornaro, Prologue: "Parta pur, ma vendicato sarà" (Coro, Andrea, Gerardo, Caterina)
06. Caterina Cornaro, Prologue: "Or che l'astro in mar si cela" (Coro)
07. Caterina Cornaro, Prologue: "Torna all'ospite tetto" (Caterina, Matilde)
08. Caterina Cornaro, Prologue: "Vieni, o tu, che ognora" (Caterina)
09. Caterina Cornaro, Prologue: "Deh! Vieni, t'affretta" (Caterina)
10. Caterina Cornaro, Prologue: "Ah! Qui ancor padre mio?" (Caterina, Andrea, Mocenigo)
11. Caterina Cornaro, Prologue: "Spera in me, della tua vita" (Gerardo, Caterina)
12. Caterina Cornaro, Prologue: "Ah, va crudel maledetto quel giorno" (Gerardo, Caterina)
13. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "Sei bella, o Cipro!" (Mocenigo, Strozzi)
14. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "Credi che dorma, o incauto" (Mocenigo, Strozzi)
15. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "Lasciami, o Cavalier" (Lusignano, Cavaliere)
16. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "Da che z sposa Caterina" (Lusignano)
17. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "Core, e pugnale" (Coro, Strozzi)
18. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "Mano a' pugnali" (Coro, Strozzi, Gerardo, Lusignano, Sgherri)
19. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "Parla, ardisci io son quel desso" (Gerardo, Lusignano)
20. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "Vedi io piango" (Gerardo, Lusignano)
21. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "Che qui non batte un core ingrato" (Gerardo, Lusignano)
22. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "Si, dall'ardir degli empi" (Gerardo, Lusignano)

CD2
01. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "Gemmata il serto" (Coro)
02. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "Guarda, s'avanza il Re" (Caterina, Lusignano)
03. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "Ah, non turbarti a questi accenti" (Lusignano, Caterina)
04. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "O re! ... Strozzi?" (Strozzi, Lusignano, Gerardo, Caterina)
05. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "Da quel di che lacerato" (Gerardo, Caterina)
06. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "De me fosti ognor compianto, fratel mio" (Caterina, Gerardo)
07. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "Parti" (Caterina, Gerardo, Mocenigo, Lusignano)
08. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "Indietro! Io, vil carnefice" (Lusignano, Mocenigo, Caterina, Gerardo)
09. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "Olà? Gran re, la collera vendicatrice è tarda" (Lusignano, Mocenigo)
10. Caterina Cornaro, Act 1: "Va fellon di questa terra" (Lusignano, Caterina, Gerardo, Mocenigo, Coro)
11. Caterina Cornaro, Act 2: "Misera patria!" (Cavaliere, Gerardo)
12. Caterina Cornaro, Act 2: "Io trar non voglio campi ed onori" (Gerardo)
13. Caterina Cornaro, Act 2: "Guerra! Guerra" (Coro, Gerardo)
14. Caterina Cornaro, Act 2: "Morte, morte! Fur troppi gl'insulti" (Gerardo, Coro)
15. Caterina Cornaro, Act 2: "Oh ciel! Che tumulto!" (Coro)
16. Caterina Cornaro, Act 2: "Dolorosa incertezza!" (Caterina, Coro)
17. Caterina Cornaro, Act 2: "Pietà, o Signor" (Caterina)
18. Caterina Cornaro, Act 2: "Vittoria! Vittoria!" (Coro, Caterina, Gerardo, Lusignano)
19. Caterina Cornaro, Act 2: "Orsù della vitoria" (Lusignano, Gerardo, Caterina, Coro)
20. Caterina Cornaro, Act 2: "Non più affanni" (Caterina, Coro)
21. Caterina Cornaro, Act 2: "Vittoria! Vittoria!" (Coro, Caterina, Lusignano)
22. Caterina Cornaro, Act 2: "Piangi, sì piangi, o misera" (Coro, Caterina, Lusignano)


Caterina Cornaro was written in the extremely productive last period of Donizetti's life (between Don Pasquale and Linda di Chamounix) and was the last of his operas to be premiered in the composer’s lifetime. Like every other work of this period, it is intensely original, in this case being unusually dark in both subject matter and general musical tone.

This is the only opera of Donizetti’s later period not to have had a quality modern recording. Conductor David Parry says: “The opera requires a prima donna with a wonderful voice, extraordinary technique and exceptional histrionic ability, which we have in Carmen Giannattasio: the role could actually have been written for her.

The story is resonant and believable, a woman forced into a political marriage with a king she does not love, but who turns out to be noble and good, so that she feels that she cannot abandon him, and who is assassinated at the instigation of a bitter enemy, leaving her to rule on her own. This calls up from Donizetti one of his most deeply felt, atmospheric and dramatically truthful scores. It is concise and hard-hitting, and I simply cannot understand why the opera is not in the repertoire; it is badly in need of a proper studio-recording.”

The double album set is accompanied by a complete libretto with an English translation alongside an article and synopsis by the eminent 19th-century musical scholar, Jeremy Commons.

"this recording reveals an interestingly coloured voice [from Giannattasio] with some effective phrasing and efficient coloratura...Add idiomatic and spirited conducting and playing from David Parry and the BBC Symphony Orchestra and this release is well worth adding to the collection of anyone interested in nineteenth century Italian opera." (Opera Now)

"Giannattasio brings an easy confidence to the rich lyricism of the writing, though a cleaner attack on the text would stamp more personality on the role...Colin Lee is sweet and graceful...and Vuyani Mlinde impresses...Parry secures a fine overall performance, drawing out the subtle drama of the piece." (BBC Music Magazine)

"Giannattasio shows once again how admirably suited she is to the bel canto repertoire. Her opening Romanza encapsulates her virtues: a good legato line wih no Sutherland droopiness, followed by an equally expressive cabaletta...I have heard Colin Lee described as 'the poor man's Florez'...he is very much more than that." (Gramophone)

"[Lee] is up to his usual high standard. His bright, high-placed voice is in fine condition...there are some meaty morsels for the middle of Giannattasio's compass, which she treats to the occasional touch of chest-voice, yet she can take upward flight with flowing ease...She completes a fine cast, in which there is now weakness." (International Record Review)

Carmen Giannattasio, soprano (Caterina Cornaro)
Colin Lee, tenor (Gerardo)
Troy Cook, baritone (Lusignano)
Graeme Broadbent, bass (Andrea Cornaro)
Vuyani Mlinde, bass (Mocenigo)
Loïc Félix, tenor (Strozzi, a Knight of the King)
Sophie Bevan, soprano (Matilde)
BBC Symphony Orchestra
BBC Singers
David Parry, conductor

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