Mercadante, Saverio - 3CD-BOX: I due Figaro - Muti, Riccardo

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Antonio Poli [Il Conte di Almaviva]
Asude Karayavuz [La Contessa]
Rosa Feola [Inez]
Annalisa Stroppa [Cherubino]
Mario Cassi [Figaro]
Eleonora Buratto [Susanna]
Anicio Zorzi Giustiniani [Torribio]
Omar Montanari [Plagio]
Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini
Philharmonia Chor Wien
Riccardo Muti

Thanks to the commitment of Maestro Riccardo Muti and under his direction, the opera in two acts 'I due Figaro' saw its first modern staging in Salzburg, then in Ravenna and now it is also available in CD.

Born in Altamura, in the province of Bari, Saverio Mercadante studied in Naples, where his family settled. Together with Vincenzo Bellini, he is considered the most representative member of the 19th century Neapolitan School. He remained for a long time in the shadow of the four great operatic composers (Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi). Only in recent years have musicologists began to look at his role in the development of Italian Belcanto.

'I due Figaro' presents an amusing subject which by affinity forms a trilogy with Rossini's 'Il Barbiere di Siviglia' and Mozart's 'Le Nozze di Figaro'. The six characters are presented each with its own solo performance, mixed with more complex orchestrated parts. The genuine melodic vein of the Neapolitan School is evident in the play and it makes use of several stylistic levels which reflect the characters' social status.

Live recording from Teatro Aligheri, Ravenna, in June 2011. Essays by Giovanni Carli Ballola and Paolo Cascio; libretto, pictures and biographies are included in the sumptuous booklet. Quality packaging and presentation. Wonderful singing.