Ninetta, Lucia, Giannetto, Fabrizio, Fernando, Pippo, Villagers, Mayor, Antonio
25.
'Now that the storm is over'
2:39
Ninetta, Lucia, Antonio, Fabrizio, Villagers, Mayor, Pippo, Giannetto, Fernando
71:04
Solo:Jeremy White bass - Fabrizio Vingradito
Solo:Susan Bickley mezzo-soprano - Lucia
Solo: Barry Banks tenor - Giannetto
Solo: Majella Cullagh soprano - Ninetta
Solo: Russell Smythe baritone - Fernando Villabella
Solo:Christopher Purves baritone - Gottardo
Solo:Nerys Jones mezzo-soprano - Pippo
Solo:John Graham-Hall tenor - Isacco
Solo: Stuart Kale tenor - Antonio
Solo: Toby Stafford-Allen baritone - Giorgio
Solo: Nicholas Garrett bass - Ernesto
Solo:Darren Jeffery baritone - Judge
Solo:Philip Tebb bass - Judge
Solo:Daniel Slater - Clerk
Solo: Prunella Scales - Magpie
Choral: Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
Orchestra: Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor:David Parry
21-23 & 27-28 September 2002
Notes
In a letter to his mother in May 1817, Rossini remarked: I’m writing an opera The Thieving Magpie. The story’s been versified by a newcomer and as a consequence I’m being driven crazy; however, it’s a most beautiful subject… The ‘beautiful subject’ was taken from an actual occurrence in which a French servant girl was convicted and hung for thefts of silverware later discovered to have been the work of a thieving magpie. The event had stimulated a substantial body of fiction.
Giovanni Gherardini’s libretto marries high-spirited adventure with prison scenes of unusual grimness and provides us with a range of characters, sympathetically, sentimentally and sometimes quirkily drawn. The story centres on a country community, subject to the king but dominated by its bustling, sadistic mayor, a kind of small-time Scarpia. At the heart of the community is the genial wine-bibbing tenant farmer, Fabrizio Vingradito, his wife, Lucia, and their son Gianetto, just returned from the wars. Gianetto plans to marry the demure servant girl, Ninetta, the heroine of the opera and an obvious variant of the Cinderella archetype in which Rossini was clearly interested. The discovery of the magpie’s nest of treasures and Ninetta’s last-minute reprieve make for a jubilant close. It brings to a triumphant conclusion an opera which celebrates the bonds of human affection and the resilience of the human spirit in the face o a disorderly world.
The scale on which Rossini was now building his music dramas allowed him to set Gherardini’s text in a manner grand enough to match the heightened expectations of even La Scala. The house itself reciprocated by sparing no expense for the production and the opera, premiered in Milan in 1817, was rapturously received.
Please login to post a review
Reviews
'What was by any standards a well-sung performance at Garsington is here even finer' under Parry the Philharmonia is able to take the performance to new levels of excellence. The Chandos recording is vivid and true.'
Gramophone
Strong casting, strong conducting and marvellous playing make this entry in Chandos Opera in English series a winner
Opera News (USA)
Barry Banks, a superb Rossini tenor… offers crystal-clear diction, impressive agility and a touching characterisation…
Opera News,New York
I have never been a fan of opera in English translation, but this recording might just effect a change of mind! I am familiar with the opera in Italian, so as a test I listened through to this new performance straight through without recourse to the libretto to determine just how intelligible and effective is the English. Much to my surprise it is an almost total delight.
American Record Guide
This is one of the finest releases yet in Chandos Opera in English series - a Rossinian masterpiece brought to life in a manner almost ideal' Recommended with enthusiasm.
Fanfare
What was by any standards a well-sung performance at Garsington is here even finer' under Parry the Philharmonia is able to take the performance to new levels of excellence. The Chandos recording is vivid and true.
Gramophone
Has it ever happened before: a first-rate stage production of an opera making a triumphant re-appearance on record in a different language?
Gramophone
Media Downloads
Whenever possible we provide a high resolution CD cover image and a PDF version of the CD booklet for you to download and keep