Rossini: Zelmira / Florez

Juan Diego Florez (Ilo), Kate Aldrich (Zelmira), Gregory Kunde (Antenore), Alex Esposito (Polidoro), Marianna Pizzolato (Emma), Mirco Palazzi (Leucippo) Orchestra e coro del Teatro Comunale de Bologna, Roberto Abbado

Juan Diego Florez, Kate Aldrich, Gregory Kunde, Alex Esposito Orchestra e coro del Teatro Comunale de Bologna, Roberto Abbado Juan Diego Flórez stars in the only available DVD version of Zelmira, filmed at the celebrated Rossini Festival in the composer’s home town of Pesaro. Recorded in high definition at the 2009 Festival, Giorgio Barberio Corsetti’s production places the classical tale, set during the Trojan Wars, in modern times and modern dress. The final opera Rossini wrote for Naples is a dramatic and musical tour de force and a magnificent showcase for the bel canto superstar of our time. Joining Juan Diego Flórez are a major international cast, described as “near miraculous” by Opera Today and led by American mezzo-soprano Kate Aldrich in the virtuosic title role. But the evening remained another distinguished triumph for Juan Diego Flórez as Prince Ilo, whose arrival in his homeland, to rescue Zelmira, was marked by “a dazzling tenorial display” which “evoked a nearly twenty-minute ovation” (Opera Today)

Price: $38.98