| Opera (dramma per musica) in 2 acts Premier: December 3, 1820, Teatro San Carlo, Napoli
 
 Recorded: 2005, Teatro La Fenice di Venezia
 
 Maometto secondo - Lorenzo Regazzo
 Selimo - Federico Lepre
 Paolo Erisso - Maxim Mironov
 Anna - Carmen Giannatasio
 Calbo - Anna Rita Gemmabella
 Condulmiero - Nicola Marchesini
 
 HD - High Definition
 
 It was customary for Rossini to modify his scores and develop second and third versions for theatres that wanted to stage his operas. The Maometto II here recorded corresponds only in part to the original score (Naples, 1820), which is the version generally performed nowadays; it is, instead, the revision made for Venice's Teatro La Fenice staged on 26th December 1822 as opening title of the 1823 Carnival season, the same season which, on February 3rd, would also see the debut of Semiramide. For Venice Rossini tried to soften the monolithic character of his Neapolitan score, introducing an opening symphony, making changes - some of them quite substantial - to the score and, especially, giving the plot a happy ending. The title role is sung by the young Italian bass Lorenzo Regazzo, internationally renowned; Claudio Scimone, on the podium, is responsible for the revision of the score.
 |