GIOACHINO ROSSINI (1792-1868): Ciro in Babilonia.

Description: Premiered only a couple of weeks after his 20th birthday, Ciro was Rossini's first attempt at opera seria (and was described at the time as dramma con cori). In fact, the work is part oratorio and part opera, the libretto not very conducive to dramatic pacing but one can still find brilliant music, full of feeling, in the individual arias. 2 CDs. Libretto available on-line. Riccardo Botta (tenor), Anna Rita Gemmabella (contralto), Luisa Islam-Ali-Zade,Maria Soulis (mezzos), Wojtek Gierlach (bass), ARS Brunensis Chamber Choir, Württemberg Philharmonic Orchestra; Antonino Fogliani.