Marin: Rossini – Semiramide (3 CD, FLAC)

Composer: Gioachino Rossini
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Ion Marin
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 3
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Size: 931 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: no

Disc: 1
01. Sinfonia
02. Act 1. No. 1.: “Sì, gran Nume: t’intesi”
03. Act 1. No. 1.: “Belo si celebri, Belo si onori”
04. Act 1. No. 1.: “Là dal Gange”
05. Act 1. No. 1.: “Di plausi clamor guilivo echeggia”
06. Act 1. No. 1.: “Di tanti regi e popoli”
07. Act 1. No. 1.: “Regina, all’ara”
08. Act 1. No. 1.: “Oh, tu de’ Magi”
09. Act 1. No. 2.: “Eccomi alfine in Babilonia”
10. Act 1. No. 2.: “Ah, quel giorno ognor rammento”
11. Act 1. No. 2.: “Oh, come da quel dì tutto per me cangiò!”
12. Act 1. No. 2.: “Ministri, al fram Pontefice”
13. Act 1. No. 3.: “Bella immago degli Dei”
14. Act 1. No. 3.: “D’un tenero amore”
15. Act 1. No. 3.: “Io tremar? Di te?”

Disc: 2
01. Act 1. No. 4.: “Oh! me felice!”
02. Act 1. No. 4.: “Ah! dov’è, dov’è il cimento?”
03. Act 1. No. 4.: “E, se ancor libero”
04. Act 1. No. 4.: “Se non avesse e meritasse Arsace”
05. Act 1. No. 5.: “Serena i vaghi rai”
06. Act 1. No. 5.: “Bel raggio lusinghier”
07. Act 1. No. 5.: “Dolce Pensiero”
08. Act 1. No. 5.: “Né viene ancor!”
09. Act 1. No. 6.: “Serbami ognor sì fido il cor”
10. Act 1. No. 6.: “Alle più car immagini”
11. Act 1. No. 6.: “Oroe dal tempio nella reggia?”
12. Act 1. No. 7.: “Ergi omai la fronte altera”
13. Act 1. No. 7.: “I vostri voti omai”
14. Act 1. No. 7.: “Qual mesto gemito”
15. Act 1. No. 7. “D’un semidio che adoro”
16. Act 1. No. 7.: “Ah! sconvolta nell’ordine eterno”
17. Act 2. No. 7.: “Alla Reggia d’intorno cauto”
18. Act 2. No. 8.: “Se la vita ancor t’è cara”
19. Act 2. No. 8.: “Quella ricordati”
20. Act 2. No. 8.: “La forza primiera”

Disc: 3
01. Act 2. No. 9.: “In questo augusto soggiorno”
02. Act 2. No. 9.: “Ebben, compiasi omai”
03. Act 2. No. 9.: “In sì berbara sciagura”
04. Act 2. No. 9.: “Su, ti scuoti: rammenta chi sei”
05. Act 2. No. 9.: “Calmati, Principessa”
06. Act 2. No. 10.: “La speranza più soave”
07. Act 2. No. 10.: “No: non ti lascio”
08. Act 2. No. 11.: “Ebben, a te: ferisci”
09. Act 2. No. 11.: “Giorno d’orror!”
10. Act 2. No. 11.: “Madre, addio”
11. Act 2. No. 12.: “Il dì cade”
12. Act 2. No. 12.: “Ah! la sorte ci tradì”
13. Act 2. No. 12.: “Que’ Numi furenti”
14. Act 2. No. 12.: “Oh! nero eccesso”
15. Act 2. No. 13.: “Un traditor:
16. Act 2. No. 13.: “Qual densa notte!”
17. Act 2. No. 13.: “Al mio pregar t’arrendi”
18. Act 2. No. 13.: “L’usato ardir”
19. Act 2. No. 13.: “Ninia, ferisci!”

# Semiramide, opera
Composed by Gioachino Rossini
Performed by Ambrosian Opera Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra
with Jan-Hendrik Rootering, Frank Lopardo, Jennifer Larmore, Cheryl Studer
Conducted by Ion Marin

The greatest Semiramide on record!

Although the presence of the Sutherland-Horne set outshadows this recording of the Babylonian queen, I would inarguably declare that this recording is the supreme rendition of Rossini’s last opera seria. True, the two main prima donnas of the former recording have vocal facilities that are the stuff that Rossinian dreams are made of, but Studer and Larmore could hold themselves well against these two vocal giants. Studer sings the murderous queen with Rossinian brilliance and drama and excellent diction! And even if Larmore doesn’t have the gutsy, manly qualities of Marilyn Horne’s voice, handles the coloratura and the lines of Arsace amazingly well. And then there are the prime male singers–Frank Lopardo and Samuel Ramey. These two vocal miracles can easily outsing the tenor and the bass starring in the other recording by Joan Sutherland, and they both sing with the proper style required by Rossini’s music. The conductor, Marin, conducts this performance exponentially better than Bonynge ever could–with passion and Rossinian style! Which one would I recommend? I really don’t know…if you are a fan of Dame Joan, get her Semiramide recording, but admittedly, I would look to this first because it showcases Rossini’s last Italian opera at its musical best (and complete too!).