Ricci, Federico: Corrado d’Altamura (highlights)

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. One of the most popular operatic comedies of the late 19th century was Crispino e la comare (1850) by the Brothers Ricci – Luigi (1805–59) and Federico (1809–77). But as well as collaborating on a number of works, the two pursued separate careers as highly successful composers in Italy and indeed throughout Europe. In 2004, Opera Rara introduced Federico’s music to the Essential Opera Rara series with his moving 1838 melodramma semiserio, La prigione di Edimburgo (ORR228), based on Sir Walter Scott’s The Heart of Midlothian. Now we return to the younger brother for Corrado d’Altamura, a dramma lirico that opened at La Scala in 1841. Set in 12th-century Sicily, the highly dramatic plot tells of betrayal and then revenge between Roggero, the Duke of Agrigento (sung here by Dmitry Korchak) and his former friend and tutor, Corrado (James Westman), to whose daughter, Delizia (Dimitra Theodossiou), Roggero has promised marriage – only to break his vows. The great expert in 19th-century Italian opera Julian Budden thought Federico the more accomplished and versatile of the two brothers, whose serious works, ‘late offshoots of the Bellinian tradition… are worthy to stand beside Mercadante’s’. They have an honoured position in the Opera Rara catalogue. This is the sixth 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. Terms & conditionsPrivacy PolicyCookiesContact usFind us on FacebookF