Pimpinone o Vespetta e Pimpinone-Intermezzo u ópera cómica en tres actos con música de Tomaso Albinoni y libreto en italiano de [Pietro Pariati]. Se estrenó en el Teatro San Cassiano Venecia 26 de noviembre 1708. Esta obrita pertenece a un género operístico propio del Barroco, Intermezzo , que se desarrollaba en los entreactos óperas serias. En este caso, se representó entre acto y acto de la ópera Astarto, dramma per musica en tres actos del mismo Tomaso Albinoni, con libreto de Apostolo Zeno y Pietro Pariati. Gozó de gran notoriedad en las tres décadas siguientes, representándose también fuera de Italia en lugares como Viena.

The booklet for this release tells us that it is not only a world premiere recording but that La Rosinda has been revived on only one other occasion since the 17th century. Baroque opera enthusiasts should be circling, then, for this is a work in which Cavalli’s skills as an opera composer who can mix fluidity of text with just enough lyricism to make musical drama that is both compelling and attractive are clearly displayed.

André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry was the greatest French composer of opéra-comique in the eighteenth century. His librettist for Le Magnifique, Jean-Michel Sedaine, took a tale by La Fontaine and fashioned it into a compelling libretto. Grétry responded with an outstanding score, including one of the first programmatic overtures in musical history. His expressive love music, and extended preludes and postludes, add to the theatrical variety of this important and varied opera.

This recording of Così fan tutte was made when the cast was preparing for performances at the 1993 Edinburgh Festival, so the cast had the advantage of enough rehearsal time together to relax into the opera's humor. Their easy rapport is most evident in the spirited recitatives, which sparkle with spontaneity and wit. The fact that the principals are talented comedians makes their unforced interactions genuinely fun, and they sound like they are thoroughly enjoying themselves. Although they are not all international superstars, the performances are stellar. The soloists bring out the humanity and complexity of the opera, and artfully convey their characters' emotional development.

Mozart's best-known opera Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) opened a series of new productions at the 2012 Salzburg Festival. Legendary maestro Nikolaus Harnoncourt conducted his orchestra, the Concentus Musicus Wien, performing the Salzburg Festival's first-ever presentation of Die Zauberflöte on period instruments.

With Magische Töne, Jonas Kaufmann returns to the world of operetta and late‑Romantic opera, presenting a collection of some of the genre’s most beautiful and beloved melodies. Recorded in Budapest with the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra under the baton of Dirk Kaftan, the album celebrates the rich musical heritage of the Austro‑Hungarian Empire (1867–1918).

An invocation – a prayer, plea, appeal, entreaty or supplication – can take many forms. So can Elsa Dreisig, praised by Gramophone as “one of her generation’s most eloquent and engaging singers”. Since 2015, when she first gained international attention, the Paris-born soprano has given ample proof of the breadth and diversity of her talent, in the opera house and concert hall, and with her recordings for Erato. On Invocation she sings 15 arias and two songs – from ‘greatest hits’ to rarities – written by 14 composers to texts in six languages. She performs with conductor Massimo Zanetti and the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova.

Verdi's masterpiece 'Simon Boccanegra' is presented in a 'clear and levelheaded' (The New York Times) staging by Andreas Kriegenburg from the Salzburg Festival. The tragedy of the corsair who becomes Doge of Genoa and is poisoned shortly after having found his lost daughter is conducted by Valery Gergiev, 'makes for gorgeously beautiful tone colours' (Der Kurier).