Mark Elder, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment - Gioachino Rossini: Semiramide (2018)

Semiramide, based on a play by Voltaire about an ancient Assyrian queen, was Rossini's last Italian opera. Some five hours long in performance, it has always been subject to cuts from producers worried that it was a butt-breaker, but Rossini insisted that it be performed as written. He was right: its massive two acts have a logic and flow that do not flag. Despite its size and difficulty (check the hefty list of sponsors and patrons in the booklet), the opera is being revived increasingly often. The work has been called the last Baroque opera, with its tragic plot from antiquity encrusted with glittering, highly ornamented arias, and you might suppose that a performance stands or falls with the singers. This version certainly offers strong ones, including the superb pair of sopranos Albina Shagimuratova in the title role and Daniela Barcellona in the travesti or cross-dressing role of the commander Arsace. The latter singer has long specialized in such roles, and one has the feeling that her performance here is a career culmination. Start sampling with her scene with Oroe, Act II, scene 4. But equally important is the work of conductor Sir Mark Elder with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Even if it was clear by 1823 that the Enlightenment had not quite panned out, the orchestra sets the dimensions of the work right from the big overture, unusual in that it is built from melodies from the opera in the manner of a musical theater overture. Everything clicks here in a way that's rare for operas of any composer.

–James Manheim

Performer:
Semiramide - Albina Shagimuratova
Arsace - Daniela Barcellona
Assur - Mirco Palazzi
Idreno - Barry Banks
Oroe - Gianluca Buratto
Azema - Susana Gaspar
Mitrane - David Butt Philip
L’ombra di Nino - James Platt
Opera Rara Chorus
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Conductor - Sir Mark Elder

Tracklist:
Gioachino Rossini (1762-1868)
Semiramide
CD1:
01. Atto I. Sinfonia
02. “Sì, gran Nume, t’intesi” (Oroe)
03. “Belo si celebri, Belo s’onori” (Coro)
04. “Là dal Gange a te primiero” (Idreno, Coro, Assur, Oroe)
05. “Di plausi clamor giulivo echeggia” (Coro)
06. “Di tanti regi e popoli che miri a te d’intorno” (Oroe, Semiramide, Idreno, Assur)
07. “Regina all’ara, e giura” (Assur, Semiramide, Idreno, Oroe, Coro)
08. “Ah! già il sacro foco è spento” (Semiramide, Idreno, Oroe, Assur, Coro)
09. Recitativo “O tu de’ Magi venerabil capo” (Semiramide, Oroe, Idreno, Assur)
10. Recitativo “Eccomi alfine in Babilonia” (Arsace)
11. Cavatina “Ah! quel giorno ognor rammento” (Arsace)
12. Recitativo “Ministri, al gran Pontefice annunziate” (Arsace)
13. Duetto “Bella imago degli Dei” (Arsace, Assur)
14. Duetto “D’un tenero amore, costante, verace” (Arsace, Assur)
15. Duetto “Io tremar? di te? m’avvio” (Arsace, Assur)
CD2:
01. Recitativo “O me felice!” (Azema, Idreno)
02. Aria “Ah dov’è, dov’è il cimento” (Idreno)
03. Aria “E se ancor libero – E il tuo bel core” (Idreno)
04. Recitativo “Se non avesse e meritasse Arsace” (Azema)
05. Coro di Donne e Cavatina “Serena i vaghi rai” (Coro, Semiramide)
06. Coro di Donne e Cavatina “Dolce pensiero” (Semiramide)
07. Recitativo “Ne viene ancor!” (Semiramide)
08. Duettino “Serbami ognor sì fido il cor” (Semiramide, Arsace)
09. Recitativo “Oroe dal tempio nella reggia?” (Assur, Oroe)
10. Finale Primo “Ergi omai la fronte altera” (Coro, Coro di Magi)
11. “I vostri voti omai” (Semiramide)
12. “Giuri ognuno a’ sommi dèi” (Semiramide, Arsace, Idreno, Oroe, Assur, Azema, Coro)
13. “L’alto eroe, che dell’Assiria” (Semiramide, Assur, Idreno, Oroe, Arsace, Azema, Coro)
14. “Qual mesto gemito” (Semiramide, Assur, Idreno, Oroe, Arsace, Azema, Coro)
15. “D’un Semidio che adoro” (Semiramide, Assur, Idreno, L’ombra di Nino, Arsace, Oroe, Azema, Coro)
16. “Ah! sconvolta nell’ordine eterno” (Semiramide, Assur, Idreno, L’ombra di Nino, Arsace, Oroe, Azema, Coro)
CD3:
01. Atto II. Recitativo “Alla reggia d’intorno cauto” (Mitrane)
02. Duetto “Se la vita ancor t’è cara” (Semiramide, Assur)
03. Duetto “Quella ricordati notte di morte” (Assur, Semiramide)
04. Duetto “Ma implacabile di Nino” (Semiramide, Assur)
05. Duetto “La forza primiera ripiglia il mio core” (Semiramide, Assur)
06. Coro “In questo augusto soggiorno arcano” (Coro di Magi, Oroe)
07. Recitativo “Ebben, compiasi omai” (Arsace, Oroe)
08. Aria “In si barbara sciagura” (Arsace)
09. Aria “Su, ti scuoti, rammenta chi sei” (Oroe, Coro, Arsace)
10. Aria “Al gran cimento t’affretta ardito” (Oroe, Coro, Arsace)
11. Recitativo “Calmati, Principessa” (Mitrane, Azema); Scena sesta - “Arsace! Giusto ciel!” (Idreno, Azema)
12. Aria “La speranza più soave” (Idreno)
13. Aria “Tu mia sposa, a questo seno” (Idreno, Coro)
14. Recitativo “No, non ti lascio” (Semiramide, Arsace)
15. Duetto “Ebbene, a te, ferisci” (Semiramide, Arsace)
16. Duetto “Giorno d’orrore! E di contento” (Semiramide, Arsace)
17. Duetto “Madre, addio” (Arsace, Semiramide)
18. Duetto “Tu serena intanto il ciglio” (Arsace, Semiramide)
CD4:
01. Scena, Recitativo e Aria “Il dì già cade” (Assur, Voci, Vari Satrapi); Scena nona - “Eccomi” (Assur)
02. Scena, Recitativo e Aria “‘Ah! la sorte ci tradì” (Coro, Assur)
03. Scena, Recitativo e Aria “Sì, vi sarà vendetta” (Assur)
04. Scena, Recitativo e Aria “‘Deh! ti ferma, ti placa, perdona” (Assur)
05. Scena, Recitativo e Aria “Ah! signore… Assur!’” (Coro, Assur)
06. Scena, Recitativo e Aria “Quei numi furenti” (Assur, Coro)
07. Recitativo “Oh nero eccesso!” (Mitrane)
08. Finale Secondo “Un traditor. Con empio ardir” (Coro)
09. “Qual densa notte!” (Arsace, Oroe, Assur, Semiramide)
10. “Al mio pregar t’arrendi” (Semiramide)
11. “Dei! qual sospiro!” (Arsace, Assur, Semiramide)
12. “L’usato ardir… il mio valore dovè?” (Semiramide, Arsace, Assur)
13. “Ninia, ferisce” (L’ombra di Nino, Assur, Arsace, Semiramide, Oroe, Coro)
14. “Vieni, Arsace, al trionfo” (Coro)