Donizetti’s Zoraide di Granata
Written when the composer was 24 it was premiered at Rome’s Teatro Argentina in January 1822, on that evening the tenor originally cast as Abenamet fell fatally ill during rehearsals and with no understudy, Donizetti hastily rewrote and shortened the part for a contralto Adelaide Mazzanti. Two years later Donizetti revised the opera with a much starrier Abenamet which we will hear sung tonight by tenor Matteo Mezzaro. Joining the cast for this production are Claudia Boyle in the title role Zoraida and Rachel Croash as Ines alongside Konu Kim, Julian Henao Gonzalez and Matteo Guerzè with Diego Ceretta conducting the Wexford Festival Opera orchestra and chorus.
RTÉ lyric fm, Tuesday 24th October, 8.00pm
