Now that the hardcover edition of the legendary recording of Rossini’s “Il barbiere di Siviglia” conducted by Claudio Abbado is out of print, the set is released in new packaging as a capbox. 2 CD + Blu-ray audio disc (24 bit/96kHz) + DVD present Abbado’s 1971 recording of Rossini’s opera with the London Symphony Orchestra and a cast led by Hermann Prey, Teresa Berganza and Luigi Alva. Also included is the 1972 studio production of a Milan performance on DVD Video with an almost identical cast; staging, direction, set and costume design by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle. The 28-page booklet (English and German) includes a synopsis and essays by Alan Blyth, Bernd Feuchtner and Philip Gosset. 

“The orchestral playing and conducting are superb, offering both sparkle and a welcome hint of gravitas … The cast, predominantly Italian, feature[s] some wonderful singers … Teresa Berganza, as Rosina … is a softer-grained mezzo than we’re used to – no machine-gun coloratura here – but offers her own special charm.” – GRAMOPHONE

GIOACHINO ROSSINI (1792–1868)

Il barbiere di Siviglia

The Barber of Seville

 

Melodramma buffo in due atti

Libretto: Cesare Sterbini, after Beaumarchais

 

Besetzung /Cast:

 

CD

Luigi Alva (Il conte d’Almaviva)

Enzo Dara (Bartolo, dottore in medicina)

Teresa Berganza (Rosina, pupilla di Bartolo)

Hermann Prey (Figaro, barbiere)

Paolo Montarsolo (Basilio, maestro di musica)

Renato Cesari (Fiorello, servitore d’Almaviva)

Stefania Malagù (Berta, cameriera di Bartolo)

Luigi Roni (Un ufficiale)

 

London Symphony Orchestra

The Ambrosian Opera Chorus

CLAUDIO ABBADO

DVD

Hans Kraemmer (Ambrogio, servitore di Bartolo)

Karl Schaidler (Un notaio)

Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala
Staged and directed by · Set & Costume Design JEAN-PIERRE PONNELLE