VINCENZO BELLINI (1801-1835): La Straniera.

Description: Could this be the first commercial recording of Bellini's least-known opera? The only competition on disc is a 1970 live recording with Renata Scotto. Here, in live performances recorded over several performances in late 2012, the Slovak soprano continues her amazingly long career with this 1829 melodrama in which Bellini reached the height of his anti-Rossinian style: acres of long-breathed, slow cantabile passages which were a major source of Wagner's "endless melody", poured out in music of passionate Romanticism in a story of forbidden love whose libretto offered ample opportunities to express deep, almost frenzied emotions. Sure, an Opera Rara release in high luxury would have been nice but the concise notes are very good (sources of the libretto, Bellini's style, premiere and first performers and reception history) and cover pretty much what OR covers. Synopses are attached to each track number. 2 CDs. No libretto. Edita Gruberova (soprano), Laura Polverelli (mezzo), José Bros (tenor), Luca Brassi (baritone), Orpheus Vocal Ensemble, Southwest German Radio Orchestra Baden-Baden and Freiburg; Pietro Rizzo.