Opera review: Bellini’s Adelson e Salvini

4 / 5 stars
Bellini’s Adelson e Salvini

BELLINI wrote this, his first opera, in 1824 while a student at the Naples Conservatory.

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Long melodious arias for which Bellini was famed are evident from the start of the sumptuous concert

So successful was the work, performed by his fellow students, that the budding young composer was immediately commissioned to write a professional opera. He composed 10 of the loveliest “bel canto” operas before his early death at the age of 33.

The long melodious arias for which Bellini was famed are evident from the start of the sumptuous concert staging by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under conductor Daniele Rustioni.

Opera Rara, in its mission to unearth forgotten works of the operatic repertoire, has assembled a cast of outstanding singers, led by tenor Enea Scala as Salvini and baritone Simone Alberghini as Adelson. 

The reason why the opera has had to be rescued from obscurity may have to do with the frankly laughable plot, which hinges on a conflict between love and friendship. 

Winsome Irish beauty Nelly is engaged to a member of the Irish Ascendancy, Lord Adelson. Unwisely, the trusting Adelson invites his Italian friend Salvini to give Nelly music lessons while he is in London trying to persuade his family to agree to the marriage.

Salvini falls madly in love with Nelly and colludes in an abduction scheme hatched by Adelson’s wicked uncle Colonel Struley – played pantomime villain-style by Russian baritone Rodion Pogossov. 

Opera: the facts

The plot, though based on a French melodrama of the time, echoed the young Bellini’s life. Encouraged by his best friend Franceso Florimo he had tried to get the parents of a music student, Maddalena Fumaroli, to agree to their marriage.

Her father had retorted that his daughter would “never marry a poor piano banger”. When Bellini became rich and famous, Maddalena’s father changed his mind, but by then Bellini’s passion had cooled.

As Nelly, mezzo Daniela Barcellona fulfils the role by looking suitably bewildered at the nefarious behaviour of the men in her life, and hitting the high notes when in peril. Bellini’s finest arias, though, are his friendship duets between tenor and baritone. Scala is technically immaculate though slightly hard-edged in tone as Salvini and Alberghini’s Adelson has a pleasantly warm baritone. 

The opera teeters precariously between tragedy and farce, with most of the intentional comedy coming from bass Maurizio Muraro, whose servant Bonifacio is a lesson in comic timing. Good support in the smaller roles from Leah-Marian Jones, Kathryn Rudge and David Soar.

Rustioni’s lively conducting, energetic jumps of excitement and occasional intercession as an extra to the action, add to the fun of the evening. A CD of the performance will be released later this year.

Bellini’s Adelson e Salvini by Opera Rara/BBC Symphony OrchestraBarbican Hall, London EC2 (One night only)

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