Donizetti’s Rosmonda was first performed in Florence in 1834; it comes between Lucrezia Borgia and Maria Stuarda and lacks the distinction of either. The melodies are nice enough, the dramatic situation relatively potent (it concerns Eleanor of Aquitaine’s murder of Rosmonda, her husband, Henry II’s mistress); but the writing, for the most part is middle-level, vaguely by rote, Donizetti. Nonetheless, fans of the singers involved here–and particularly Renée Fleming, who is, presumably, the ace-in-the-hole–should clamber for this release. It’s taken from Opera Rara’s complete set and contains almost all of Rosmonda’s (Fleming’s) music: in the 76 minutes offered, we get Rosmonda’s opening scene, aria, and cabaletta (actually the score’s high point–Donizetti later re-used it in the French version of Lucia, and it has been previously recorded by Beverly Sills), along with her duets with the other characters and the entire first act finale.
Fleming sings gorgeously and with great feeling; Nelly Miricioiu makes Eleanor the harridan she’s supposed to be, as always; tenor Bruce Ford (as Henry) makes us wish he were heard more often. David Parry keeps the action swift and exciting, the orchestra and chorus are excellent, and the sound, if a bit glaring, is nice and forward. Donizetti completists probably already own the whole set; this CD is a good intro to both the opera and singers.
