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NU 6492
Rossini: Matilde di Shabran (1821 Version) [Live]
Label Catalogue Number:
8.660492-94
8.660492-94
Running Time: 03:17:26
Release Date: December 2020
Originally recorded in 2019
Originally recorded in 2019
Genre:
Classical
Opera
Classical
Opera
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About
The comic-heroic romp Matilde di Shabran was Rossini’s last commission for the theatres of Rome, the city where he’d had great successes such as Il barbiere di Siviglia. Rossini took advantage of the agile, sparkling style of librettist Jacopo Ferretti to create a narrative in which the ferocious Corradino, a declared misogynist, is introduced to the resourceful Matilde, who succeeds in melting his iron heart and winning his love. This premiere recording revives the original 1821 Rome version, which was conducted at the last minute by Paganini, and caused brawling in the streets between Rossini’s admirers and detractors.
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Reviews
**** Excellent Album
Louis Bilodeau – Classica magazine (France) – October 2021
“…This new recording would be a great, and inexpensive, way to enter the sound world of Rossini’s mature operas. It fascinates as it goes along, thanks in part to its mingling of serious and comic elements… Committed Rossinians will want to have this well-performed world-premiere recording of the Rome version.”
Ralph P Locke – TheArtsfuse.org – 18 August 2021
“… Naxos is again to be congratulated for its enterprise in recording the first attempt at Rossini’s Matilde di Shabran. The three main soloists, Corradino, Matilde, and Edoardo, fully deserve their accolades for their singing and endurance!.. Naxos offer very well-balanced sound, with applause kept after the set pieces and at the end of each act… For all bel-cantoists and Rossini fans out there, this is a must.”
David Cutler – Fanfare – May/June 2021
“… Michele Angelini’s fluent tenor moves confidently around all the fast notes, as well as inot the higher register with both musical and dramatic insight. Sara Blanch’s sparkling soprano makes her an effective Matilde, effortlessly working her vocal wiles in order to allay Corradino’s macho posturing; her delivery of the florid final rondo is spot-on. Matched with exceptional coloratura facility, Victoria Yarovaya’s warm contralto finds ideal employment in the trouser role of Edoardo … There are characterful buffo performances … Lamia Beuque brings a richly lyrical quality to the scheming Countess. The orchestra is skilful, the chorus more than capable, and the conductor José Piguel Pérez-Sierra sees to it that the comic-grotesque spirit if the piece registers…”
George Hall – Opera – May 2021
“Well worth anyone’s money for the singing of the three main characters.”
Göran Forsling – MusicWeb-International.com – 19 March 2021
Opera Now Choice
“… I haven’t listened to Matilde for quite a while and this set reminds me just how good an opera it is… I really enjoyed José Miguel Pérez-Sierra’s conducting, which gives a firm steer, relishes the wit and has a good ear for orchestral detail. The young cast is excellent… Matilde, soprano Sara Blanch, is phenomenal in her technique. The tone is warm, the personality sparkles and the coloratura dazzles – her final Rondo is extraordinary in its verve and precision… a Matilde of great exuberance.” *****
Francis Muzzo – Opera Now – January/February 2021
Performance **** Recording ****
“… Michelle Angelini is magnificent as the villain, everything that you hope for in a Rossini tenor – fleet of voice in his runs and trills and with gravity-defying head notes. Sara Blanch’s Matilde matches him note for note. Their Act I duet ‘Ch’io fugga ha già timore…’ is a thrilling lesson in Rossini singing. There’s good work from the rest of the cast, notably the contralto Victoria Yarovaya as Eduardo … Equally pleasing is the Passionart Orchestra conducted y José Miguel Pérez-Sierra. All scrupulously Rossinian including the celebrated horn solo at the beginning of Act II.”
Christopher Cook - BBC Music magazine - February 2021
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