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Stylish and Powerful
Donizetti's 'Belisario',
reviewed by ROBERT HUGILL
Donizetti wrote Belisario shortly after the success of Lucia di Lammermoor. It can have been no co-incidence that the librettist for both operas was Salvatore Cammarano, but in fact Donizetti had had the libretto for Belisario on his desk for quite some time. That he might have been doubtful about setting it is perfectly understandable: the libretto is in many ways an unsatisfactory and oddly constructed piece; the opera is redeemed by some terrific writing from Donizetti. Chelsea Opera Group chose to give this piece a rare outing for their first collaboration with Richard Bonynge, on Sunday 13 February 2011 at London's Queen Elizabeth Hall.
The opera concerns the historical character of Belisarius (Belisario) who was a successful general under Emperor Justinian (Giustiniano)...
Copyright © 16 February 2011
Robert Hugill,
London UK
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