Gaetano Donizetti – La Favorite

‘Donizetti, in his musical and dramaturgical maturity and writing for the Paris Opéra, sought to overcome in La Favorite the stereotypical forms of contemporary Italian opera. This is particularly evident in the recitatives, which are unusually long and developed, culminating in the “scene” that would later become an essential feature of Verdi’s theatre.’

Riccardo Frizza, conductor


8.660549-51
Also available on DVD (DYN-37992)
and Blu-ray Video (DYN-57992)

Gaetano DONIZETTI (1797–1848)
La Favorite
Opera in four acts (1840)
Libretto by Alphonse Royer (1803–1875)
and Gustave Vaëz (1812–1862)

Caterina Di Tonno, Soprano • Annalisa Stroppa, Mezzo-soprano
Javier Camarena, Edoardo Milletti, Tenors
Florian Sempey, Baritone • Evgeny Stavinsky, Bass
Coro dell’Accademia Teatro alla Scala
Orchestra e Coro Donizetti Opera
Riccardo Frizza

Written for the Opéra in Paris, Gaetano Donizetti’s La Favorite contains some of his most famously enthralling arias. While its much-reduced Italian version has continued in popularity, this superb production from the Donizetti Opera Festival in his birthplace of Bergamo returns the work to its rarely heard 1840 French grand opera origins. Set in 14th-century Spain, the tragic story is of a pious novice (Fernand) who falls in love with a noble lady and abandons the cloister, meeting her in secret. He becomes a war hero and asks the King for her hand, later finding out to his horror that she is Léonor de Guzman, the King’s beloved mistress.

Listen to an extract from Act II:
Finale: Oui du Seigneur la clémence est lassée
About the Artists
Audiovisual recordings of Donizetti operas
DYN-37847 [DVD]
Pietro il Grande
De Candia • Castellano • Gardina
Solodovnikova • Brito • Romano
Ondadurto Teatro
Orchestra Gli Originali • Coro Donizetti Opera
Alessandrini • Paciotti • Pasquali
‘Donizetti devotees will no doubt be delighted with this rarity.’
BBC Music Magazine
Also available on Blu-ray Video (DYN-57847)
DYN-37907 [DVD]
Belisario
Frontali • Remigio • Stroppa • Albelo
Orchestra e Coro Donizetti Opera
Frizza
‘The principals are, without exception, first-rate. Roberto Frontali in the title role has a voice that speaks profoundly of authority and wisdom. Carmela Remigio… plumbs the emotional depths with dignity and purity of tone … a very enjoyable package.’
BBC Music Magazine ★★★★
Also available on Blu-ray Video (DYN-57907)
DYN-37848 [DVD]
L’Ange de Nisida
Sempey • Lorenzi • Kim • Fridman • Benetti
Orchestra e Coro Donizetti Opera
Tingaud • Micheli
★★★★★
★★★★
★★★★
‘Conductor Jean-Luc Tingaud generates real excitement from the chorus and orchestra, adding to the unique pleasure of witnessing the long-delayed, world-premiere staging of a very entertaining Donizetti opera.’
The WholeNote
Also available on Blu-ray Video (DYN-57848)
DYN-37944 [DVD]
L’Elisir d’amore
Sala • Camarena • Sempey • Frontali
Orchestra Gli Originali • Coro Donizetti Opera
Frizza • Wake-Walker
‘Upbeat, supple conducting from Riccardo Frizza rounds off one of the most pleasing releases to date from this dynamic and imaginative company.’
BBC Music Magazine ★★★★
Also available on Blu-ray Video (DYN-57944)
DYN-37943 [DVD]
La Fille du régiment
Blanch • Lesca • Bordogna • Osborn
Orchestra Donizetti Opera
Coro dell’Accademia Teatro alla Scala
Spotti • Doñas
★★★★
‘With superb singing across the board, winning characterisation and witty direction, there is much to enjoy here indeed.’
BBC Music Magazine ★★★★★
Also available on Blu-ray Video (DYN-57943) and Disc and Streaming (CDS7943.02)
DYN-37833 [DVD]
Enrico di Borgogna
Bonitatibus • Ganassi
Sekgapane • Castoro • Tittoto
Academia Montis Regalis • Coro Donizetti Opera
De Marchi • Paoli
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★
‘This new Donizetti discovery, with splendid singing and playing as well as an amusing production, is highly recommended.’
Fanfare
Also available on Blu-ray Video (DYN-57833)


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