La Rondine (Puccini)
Hardy DVD, HCD 4026, $39.95

A major operatic discovery! A live 1958 performance from the San Carlo Opera in Naples, starring soprano Rosanna Carteri and tenor Giuseppe Gismondo. This rare video documents the extraordinary level of performance of opera in Italy in the 1950s, with equal emphasis on lyrical singing and dynamic, nuanced acting. The supporting cast includes the renowned baritone Giuseppe Valdengo as Rambaldo, Ornella Rovero as Lisette, and Gino Sinimberghi as Prunier. The Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro di San Carlo Napoli is under the direction of the legendary maestro Vincenzo Bellezza, who had conducted the US premiere of La Rondine at the Metropolitan Opera in 1928. Includes subtitles in English, French, Japanese, Italian, and Spanish. 107 minutes.

Cast

Magda……………………………………………………….Rosanna Carteri
Lisette……………………………………………………… Ornella Rovero
Ruggero…………………………………………………Giuseppe Gismondo
Rambaldo……………………………………………… Giuseppe Valdengo
Prunier…………………………………………………….Gino Sinimberghi
Périchaud………………………………………………………Mario Frosini
Gobin……………………………………………………Antonio Pomposelli
Crébillon……………………………………………………. Silvo Santarelli
Yvette………………………………………………………. Giulietta Pulissi
Bianca………………………………………………………….Carla Schlean
Suzy-Lolette………………………………………………….Anna Di Stasio
Maggiordomo………………………………………………Raffaele Bisogni
Cantore…………………………………………………………Teresa Rossi
Georgette………………………………………………… Tina Quagliarella
Gabriella………………………………………………………..Fiorella Ortis
Adolfo……………………………………………………….Gianni Avolanti

Orchesttra & Chorus of the Teatro di San Carlo Napoli
Conducted by Vincenzo Bellezza