On Friday 21 March, Opera Rara released the first ever studio recording of the original 1857 version of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra (ORC65). Follow the link for a cornucopia of Verdian deliciousness: aria after aria, including this, Amelia’s Cavatina sung by the great Eri Nakamura:
For this recording, Opera Rara teamed up with its former Artistic Director Sir Mark Elder, The Hallé and the choruses of Opera North and the Royal Northern College of Music. Argentinean baritone Germán Enrique Alcántara takes up the title role and is joined by Japanese soprano Eri Nakamura as Amelia and British bass William Thomas as Jacopo Fiesco. All three singers make their studio opera recording debuts on this release. The role of Gabriele Adorno is sung by Peruvian tenor Iván Ayón-Rivas who returns to Opera Rara following his recording debut on the charity’s International Opera Award-winning release of Mercadante’s Il proscritto (ORC62).
A full post on this important release will be forthcoming on Classical Explorer. This is precisely he type of project that enhances one’s view of this era composers
