Opera at home

CDs

L’ANGE DE NISIDA

DONIZETTI

Opera Rara ORC58

One of the most prolific of opera composers, Gaetano Donizetti penned over 70 works in 30 years. But this one, L’Ange de Nisida, never saw the light of day in its original form. Scheduled for an 1839 Paris premiere, the presenter went bankrupt and the project was scrapped. Donizetti recycled bits and pieces of the score for La Favorite the following year. Thanks to extensive research by Italian musicologist Candida Mantica over the past ten years, the 800-page score was restored and received its much belated world premiere in Jul. 2018 at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, albeit in concert form.

This Opera Rara release comes from these ROH performances under the baton of the label’s Artistic Director, Sir Mark Elder. It’s a substantial work with over 2 ½ hours of music squeezed onto two very full CDs. Stylistically it has both French and Italian operatic elements, with particularly intricate and extended ensemble numbers. Upon first hearing, it’s unmistakably and quintessentially Donizetti, with all his trademark musical turns and melodic inspirations. Those familiar with La Favorite will also recognize some of the music.

As a piece of drama, does not represent Donizetti at his best, suffering from a weak libretto. It takes place on the Spanish island of Nisida, involving the beautiful Sylvia who is King Fernand’s mistress. But she’s also pursued by an itinerant soldier, Leone. Your obligatory love triangle with improbable twists and turns, it is not exactly convincing for 21-century sensibilities. The chief pleasure is musical, and there are five principal roles, all rewarding. Canadian soprano Joyce El-Khoury is suitably angelic as Sylvia, offering pure, youthful tone and fine coloratura. Partnering her is Korean tenor David Junghoon Kim, who has just the right high lyric tenor and