Joyce DiDonato sings Adina - Fragolette fortunate - Rossini

English subtitles available.

Among Rossini's operas Adina has perhaps the most mysterious origins. Commissioned by an unknown Portuguese admirer as a gift for an unknown soprano, composed in 1818 yet not performed until 1826, the opera develops the popular theme of the "abduction from the serraglio."

Synopsis:
The Calif of Baghdad plans to marry the beautiful young slave-girl Adina. She, for reasons which are not immediately evident, is not unsympathetic to the Calif but the reappearance of her one-time lover Selimo puts her in a dilemma. Aided by his servant Mustafà, a gardener in the royal palace, Selimo persuades Adina to elope with him; which is just as well for it turns out that Adina is the Calif's longlost daughter. The abduction goes awry, however, leading to a vivid little scene among the fishermen of the Tigris as the lovers are arrested. Selimo is sentenced to death and Adina faints, but a medallion round her neck happily reveals her true identity to the Calif.

Italian libretto:

Fragolette fortunate
pel mio ben io vi destino,
il suo labbro di rubino
voi ne andata a ristorar.
Io frattanto in quel volto
volgerò furtivo un guardo
ma la fiamma ondio tuttardo
spero in vano di calmar.
No, non deve umile ancella
aspirar a tanto bene,
nuovi affanni e nuove pene
avrò sempre da provar.
Fragolette fortunate
io vinvidio e nol sapete,
voi quei labbri toccherete
che mi fanno delirar.

Adina: Joyce DiDonato
Selimo: Raúl Giménez
Il Califfo: Marco Vinco
Mustafà: Carlo Lepore
Alí: Saimir Pirgu

Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna
Coro da Camera di Praga

Renato Palumbo

Festival Rossini di Pesaro,
9 august 2003

Category:

Music

Tags:

• joyce
• didonato
• gioacchino
• rossini
• festival
• il
• califfo
• in
• bagdad
• adina
• fragolette
• fortunate
• pesaro
• 2003
• opera

[SsteinwayS]

Oh yes, I saw that too! It was really quite hilarious!! :P

[thecelticspirit]

Yeah, I saw a video about her faces (I can't remember exactely its name) it was something like "The hundred faces of Cecilia Bartoli" Quite funny ^^

[SsteinwayS]

Well, I mostly agree...except...they tend to get even worse in recital o.o

[thecelticspirit]

I like them ! But only in recital. When I'm watching an opera, I have to feel with the character, I have to forget that the singer is actually singing. With Cecilia... I can't. That's why I have trouble to see her in a opera. But I agree, in recital, she's outstanding. She has an amazing agility and a disarming charm :)

[SsteinwayS]

!!!!!! That's hilarious! Her faces are really quite funny, even in recital, but I like listening to her because she's such an engaging and amazing artist...vocally :P

[thecelticspirit]

I don't really like Cecilia in opera... She makes too many weird faces, they distract me from the emotion... But she's really good in recital, because, there, prima la voce :) Joyce is good... in both xD

[SsteinwayS]

Ahahaha....she's already used to it on Facebook :P And yep! Don't forget Joyce! And Cecilia!! :P

[thecelticspirit]

I hope Ellen will not see those comments ^^

Btw... let's not forget Joyce :)

[SsteinwayS]

Ahahaha...I like Damrau too...but...Dessay is forever first! :)

[thecelticspirit]

Well, yeah, I like Diana, she's great :) But... Natalie is better xDDDDDD (kidding ^^)