What can I say? I'm the kind of opera listener who likes virtuosi (of course, if the singing is backed up with a good portrayal ;-)). Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini and, most recently, Pacini and Mercadante are my favorite composers and I can't stop listenting to their wonderful works. Now, "Elvida" isn't one of the strongest works of Gaetano Donizetti. The plot is as follows (I'm taking the synopsis from the wonderful classicstoday site, I doubt that I can retell the story better than there :-)): "Elvida (soprano), a "noble Castilian maiden", is taken captive by a Moorish big shot (Amur, a bass), whose son Zeidar (mezzo, a travesty role) desires her. Elvida's fiancé Alfonso (tenor) comes to her rescue, and when Amur tries to kill Elvida, Zeidar stops him, and the two Moors are allowed to go free as tenor and soprano rejoice". The music is certainly better than the story. The present except is the final duet for the lovers. What shocked me was the fact that this duet is actually a set of theme and variations, quite unusual. Actually, the duet is simpler on paper: first Alfonso sings a verse, then Elvida, then both singers sing the final stretta. Yet in this rendition the singers sing in unison all the verses, while including an additional variation (I may be mistaken here, but it seems that way). Now that is singing! This small except proves that with capable singers like Bruce Ford and Annick Massis even an average opera can become a masterpiece. Hope you enjoy (your comments are most welcome)!

P.S. It's a mystery how "Opera Rara", the company who made this recording manages to surprise fans of belcanto every year with new and new recordings of obscure (and not so obscure) works. If you aren't familiar with their work, I strongly advice you to go to the official site of the comnpany or to just buy one of their CDs ("Elvida" would be a good start :-) ).

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