Gaetano Donizetti: Dom Sebastien (Opera Rara Audio CD)

Vesselina Kasarova, Giuseppe Filianoti, Alastair Miles, Simon Keenlyside & Carmelo Corrado Caruso

Dom Sébastien, Roi de Portugal (Don Sebastian, King of Portugal) is a French grand opera in five acts by Gaetano Donizetti. The libretto was written by Eugène Scribe, based on Paul-Henri Foucher's play Dom Sébastian de Portugal (1838), a historic-fiction about King Sebastian of Portugal (1554-1578) and his ill-fated 1578 expedition to Morocco. It premiered on November 13, 1843 at the Théâtre de l'Académie Royale de Musique (or Paris Opéra). This was the last opera written by Donizetti.

This recording comes in the usual Opera Rara quality presentation. This includes a sturdy folding box outer containing a scholarly essay from Dr Jeremy Commons, a performance history, a synopsis in three languages and full libretto with English translation.


Orchestra & Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Mark Elder

“Treasure trove in the grand style”
--Rupert Christiansen of The Daily Telegraph, reviewing the concert performance.