Leoncavallo: Zingari (complete opera)
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RUGGIERO LEONCAVALLO
Leoncavallo: Zingari (complete opera)
Krassimira Stoyanova, Arsen Soghomonyan, Stephen Gaertner, Lukasz Golinski / Opera Rara Chorus, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Carlo Rizzi
[ Opera Rara / CD ]
Release Date: Friday 23 September 2022
Based on a poem written in 1827 by Alexander Pushkin, Zingari is a tale of passion, jealousy and crime in a Gypsy camp on the banks of the Danube.
This one-act opera was a huge success immediately after its creation in London in 1912 and had an incredibly long run, both in London and the United States. Marking Leoncavallo's return to the verismo style of Pagliacci, Opera Rara's version of Zingari showcases rich, colourful orchestral music with powerful choral moments and seductive arias.
The great Bulgarian soprano Krassimira Stoyanova brings life to the beautiful temptress Fleana, who encourages and later rejects the passionate advances of aristocrat Radu, powerfully sung by tenor Arsen Soghomonyan. The American baritone Stephen Gaertner completes the fatal love triangle as Tamar, the brooding Gypsy poet
"it's hard to imagine it better done, either. Arsen Soghomonyan was the dark-voiced, passionate Radu, slowly losing control when faced with Krassimira Stoyanova's imperious, self-determined Fleana, gloriously sung. Stephen Gaertner, handsome sounding as Tamar, did wonders with his seductive serenade - a hit number in 1912 - while Łukasz Goliński was the stoical, knowing Old Man, unfazed by the murkiness of human nature. Rizzi conducted with formidable intensity, and the playing (the Royal Philharmonic) and choral singing (the Opera Rara Chorus) were both first rate." The Guardian
"This opera has everything one could want, in miniature. Grand orchestral tunes, a brilliant tenor lead, and an immolated soprano. It does make one wonder if the success of the work was due to its score, the initial performances by the soloists, or just the wildly anticipated desire by audiences to see a soprano burned to death for adultery." PhilsOperaWorld
