Avie Maometto Secondo

In celebration of its 25th anniversary season, Garsington Opera releases its first commercial recording - Rossini's rare Maometto Secondo. Recorded live at Garsington Opera's universally acclaimed 2013 performances, this 3-CD set is stylishly packaged in a 100-page hardbound book, complete with synopsis, essay and libretto in Italian with English translations. The production values mirror Garsington Opera's exceptional artistic standards and beautiful setting. Set in the 15th century, Rossini's hugely ambitious undertaking depicts the Turkish Sultan Maometto's siege of the Venetian outpost of Negroponte and his ultimate defeat. The superb international cast is led by the suitably menacing bass-baritone Darren Jeffery in the title role, with American soprano Siân Davies in her European debut as his anguished daughter Anna, Australian mezzo Caitlin Hulcup as the general Calbo, and tenor Paul Nilon as the Venetian Governor. The assured baton of David Parry conducting the Garsington Opera Orchestra and Chorus highlights the brilliant and dramatic score. Personnel: Garsington Opera Orchestra and Chorus, David Parry (conductor), Paul Nilon (tenor - Erisso Governor of the Venetians), Siân Davies (soprano - Anna his daughter), Darren Jeffery (bass-baritone - Maometto Sultan of the Turks), Caitlin Hulcup (mezzo soprano - Calbo Venetian general), Christopher Diffey (tenor - Condulmiero Venetian general), Richard Dowling (tenor - Selimo follower of Maometto) Critical acclaim for Garsington Opera's Maometto the Second: "(5 stars) An all-round triumph." - Financial Times "A major coup for Garsington Opera...a masterpiece...sterling production." - Opera Today "Bravo, Garsington." - The Daily Telegraph "An astonishing success." - Opera