Numerous myths surround the supposed failure of Ermione, and while Rossini himself feared the subject might be ‘overly tragic’, he was clearly fond of the work, keeping its manuscript until his death. Ermione is set in the aftermath of the Trojan War, with the Greek princess Ermione consumed with jealousy because Pirro has forsaken her and fallen in love with Andromaca, the widow of Hector. This complex web of emotional turmoil explores the calamitous consequences of passion between larger-than-life characters, with Rossini’s captivating lyrical expressiveness and spectacular vocal acrobatics superbly performed in this acclaimed Rossini in Wildbad production.

Antonino Fogliani and the Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra have previously recorded the 2022 Rossini in Wildbad production for Naxos of Rossini’s Elisabetta regina d’Inghilterra (866053839). This was released in February 2024 and, with soprano Serena Farnocchia again in the title role, can now be united with this new Ermione by collectors.

Cast:
- Ermione: Serena Farnocchia (soprano)
- Andromaca: Aurora Faggioli (mezzo-soprano)
- Pirro: Moisés Marín (tenor)
- Oreste: Patrick Kabongo (tenor)
- Pilade: Chuan Wang (tenor)
- Fenicio: Jusung Gabriel Park (bass-baritone)
- Cleone: Mariana Poltorak (soprano)
- Cefisa: Katarzyna Guran (soprano)
- Attalo: Bartosz Jankowski (tenor)