Francesco Cilluffo - Cilea:Gloria - Import Blu-ray Disc

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Francesco Cilluffo

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Francesco Cilea's last masterpiece opera "Gloria" with rising star Anastasia Bartoli in the title role! The world's first film adaptation! The setting is 14th century Italy, rocked by the conflict between the Guelphs (papists) and the Ghibellines (emperors) over the right to ordain priests. Lionette (commander of the Gibberines) infiltrates Guelph-controlled Siena and asks Gloria, daughter of Aquilante, the chief of Siena, to run away with him (they are in love with each other). Lionette, with Gloria's hesitant hand, escapes to the Gibberines' position near Siena, where he meets Gloria's brother, Baverin, who is in the process of taking Siena. Gloria's brother Bard comes to the camp in disguise and orders Gloria to assassinate Lionette. ...... Following "Adriana Lecouvreur" (1902), the biggest hit of the five operas Cilea composed during his lifetime, the composer worked on another opera, "L'Operetta" (1902), which was a masterpiece of the composer's own. The premiere at La Scala in Milan in 1908 (conducted by Toscanini) was a failure, and the composer gave up writing. However, Cilea, who later continued his activities as an educator in Palermo and Naples, made significant revisions to the opera at the urging of a music publisher, and presented it in Naples in 1932.Although this production was well received, it never took root in the repertoire of the opera house, due in part to the Italian current situation. This production is a new production by the Cagliari Opera in Sardinia, which has been vigorously reviving buried operatic works. This production features a masterpiece from Cilea's later years, with flowing cantabile in the Italian operatic tradition and a refined and colorful orchestral style that is impressive. The title role is sung by Anastasia Bartoli, a rising star who made her Japan debut as Lady Macbeth in "Macbeth" conducted by Riccardo Muti at the 2021 Tokyo Spring Music Festival. Anastasia Bartoli is an intelligent soprano with a dramatic yet limpid expression backed by excellent vocal technique. The role of Lionette will be played by Carlo Ventre, a well-known singer in Japan who has appeared as the title role in "Tosca," "Aida," "Andrea Chenier," and "Otello" at the New National Theatre, with his elongated and brilliant voice. Verdi baritone Franco Vassallo (Bard), who is active on the world's cynical stages, will sing the role of the dark, passionate antagonist in a superb performance. Antonio Albanese's direction is a spectacular stage production, with the period setting replaced from the Middle Ages to ancient Italy.The orchestra of the Teatro Cagliari, led by Francesco Ciruffo, whose repertoire consists mainly of modern and contemporary works, brings new light to the composer's last opera with its excellent singers, making the most of Cilea's iridescent cantabile and exquisite sound. Naxos Japan