Search - Gioachino Rossini, Massimiliano Carraro, Dalmacio Gonzales :: Rossini - Demetrio e Polibio / Gonzales, Mingardo, Surjan, Weidinger, Martina Franca Festival, Carraro

Surprising and Refreshing

John Cragg | Delta(greater Vancouver), B.C Canada | 09/07/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Demetrio e Polibio is a work of Rossini's youth, written without concrete performance plans and before his abilities as a composer had become widely known. As such, it is of interest to illustrate Rossini's development. Surprisingly, the opera is also a fresh and interesting work in itself. Rossini tries out a wider variety of styles than in his later works, where he paints with distinctively narrow palate, but the whole is a coherent as well as a fascinating and satisfying work of art. It can stand up favorably to comparison with very many contemporary operas. Stendhal thought very highly of this opera; his enthusiasm can be appreciated from this production.The recording is a result of a performance at the Festival Valle d'Itria. It is very well done. The recording quality itself is first rate, and the performers, all pretty obscure, present a well sung and exciting performance. They demonstrate how true it is that there is a large number of talented artists who can produce results that are highly satisfying. The whole demonstrates how much we tend to suffer if we only stick to the well-known works and performers.The booklet contains a short, useful essay, synopsis and libretto, all with English translations. It is a model of its kind, and ensures that the work can be appreciated easily. All together a very good production, one I am happy to own, and worth the full price charged."