Description:
Anna Bolena (1830), the first, longest, and grandest of Donizetti's so-called Three Tudor Queens trilogy, was the first of his operas to be performed in Paris and London and provided for him the possibilities of an international career. One should note, however, that Donizetti didn't write these operas as a trilogy. These Elizabethan dramas have different librettists and each was premiered in a different city. Although not always historically accurate, this is the story of Henry VIII's infatuation with his wife Queen Anne Boleyn's lady in waiting Jane Seymour, and his conniving to accuse the Queen of infidelity in order to have her sentenced to death so that he may marry Jane Seymour. Despite the Queen's refutations of the allegations against her, Henry, of course, succeeds in his efforts and the Queen is sentenced to death by hanging. Although billed as complete, this performance does contain cuts. The fine recording with Beverly Sills as Ann Boleyn is the recorded performance that contains every note, including the complete fiendishly difficult Act Two trio. Recorded in 1987, toward the end of her career, this performance demonstrates that Joan Sutherland hadn't lost her brilliant command of the dazzling coloratura. She portrays and conveys the tragedy of this wronged queen's fate in which she evidences defiance to the end. The cast is of uniformly high quality with Samuel Ramey as Enrico VIII (Henry VIII), Jerry Hadley as Lord Riccardo Percy, Susanne Mentzer as Giovanna Seymour (Jane Seymour), Bernadette Manca di Nissa as Smeton, Giorgio Surian as Lord Rochefort, and Ernesto Gavazzi as Sir Hervey. Richard Bonynge commands the Welsh National Orchestra & Chorus with authority. This excellently recorded three-CD set includes a booklet that contains the libretto in both Italian and English. ~ Jeffrey K. Chase, AMG

Track Listing:

Disk 1
1.	Sinfonia (Overture)
2.	Nè Venne Il Re?
3.	Ella Di Me, Sollecita
4.	Si Taciturna E Mesta
5.	Deh! Non Voler Costringere
6.	Come, Innocente Giovane
7.	Non V'ha Sguardo Cui Sia Dato
8.	Oh! Qual Parlar Fu Il Sono!
9.	Tutta In Voi La Luce Mia
10.	Ah! Qual Sia Cercar Non Oso
11.	Chi Veggo?
12.	Da Quel Dì Che, Lei Perduta
13.	Ah! Così Nel Dì Ridenti
14.	Desta Sì Tosto
15.	Io Sentii Sulla Mia Mano
16.	Or Che Reso Ai Patrii Lidi
17.	Questo Dì Per Noi Spuntato
Disk 2
1.	E'sgombro Il Loco
2.	Ah! Parea Che Per Incanto
3.	Taci, Taci, Tropp'oltre Vai
4.	S'ei T'abborre, Io T'amo Ancora
5.	Ah! Per Pietà Del Mio Spavento
6.	Alcun Potria Ascolarti
7.	Tace Ognuno
8.	In Separato Carcere
9.	Oh! Dove Mal Ne Andarono
10.	Dio, Che Mi Vedi In Core
11.	Al Par Del Mio
12.	Va, Infelice
Disk 3
1.	Ebben? Dinanzi Ai Giudici
2.	Scostatevi ... Il Re Giunge
3.	Ambo Morrete, O Perfidi
4.	Al Consiglio Sien Tratti
5.	Sposa A Percy
6.	Per Questa Fiamma Indomita
7.	Stolta! Non Sai ...
8.	Ah! Pensate Che Rivolti
9.	Tu Pur Dannato A Morte
10.	Vivi Tu, Te Ne Scongiuro
11.	Nel Veder La Tua Costanza
12.	Chi Può Vederla A Ciglio Asciutto
13.	Piangete Voi?
14.	Al Dolce Guidami
15.	Qual Mesto Suon?
16.	Cielo, A'miei Lunghi Spasimi
17.	Coppia Iniqua, L'estrema Vendetta

Availability
Estimated despatch 5-10 days after ordering.

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