Mercadante - ’Maria Stuarda, Regina di Scozia’ (highlights) | Opera Rara ORR241

Mercadante - ’Maria Stuarda, Regina di Scozia’ (highlights)

Label: Opera Rara

Cat No: ORR241

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 1

Genre: Opera

Release Date: 2nd April 2007

Contents

Artists

Judith Howarth
Manuela Custer
Jennifer Larmore
Colin Lee
Pauls Putninš
Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
Philharmonia Orchestra

Conductor

Antonello Allemandi

Works

Mercadante, Saverio

Maria Stuarda, Regina di Scozia (highlights)

Artists

Judith Howarth
Manuela Custer
Jennifer Larmore
Colin Lee
Pauls Putninš
Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
Philharmonia Orchestra

Conductor

Antonello Allemandi

About

In this popular series of highlights, Opera Rara selects the best moments from neglected 19th century operas. Each single-disc set is accompanied by a complete libretto, allowing the listener to place the selections in the context of the whole opera.
 
Whereas Schiller’s tragedy and most operas on the story of Mary Queen of Scots concentrate on her condemnation, final confession and execution, the story of Mercadante’s opera deals with an earlier period of her life, when she was struggling to maintain her authority and independence from the overbearing and bullying ambitions of Scottish chieftains and nobles.
 
One of the greatest difficulties that confronts anyone opening a score or libretto of Mercadante’s Maria Stuarda regina di Scozia is to identify just who all the characters are. Ultimately, though, does it matter? Quasi-historical figures and a plot in which the hero ultimately rescues the heroine from the villain’s clutches are simply a framework on which to hang this exhilarating music. It is clearly the music that matters and Mercadante, here in his early Rossinian manner and writing for the English prima donna, Elizabeth Ferron, pours out lashings of bel canto melody and bravura for our delight. At its Bologna performance in 1821, Maria Stuarda, in the words of a contemporary reviewer, ‘offers room for much praise’. We doubt that any of you would disagree!
 
This is the fifth opera in the Essential Opera Rara series and, once again, a vivid impression of the work is captured on a single disc, accompanied by a complete libretto and article by the eminent 19th century musical scholar, Jeremy Commons.

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