Semiramide, La Signora regale

When Mehta sang Orlando with The Royal Opera, his Medoro was Anna Bonitatibus. A regular and acclaimed Cherubino in David McVicar’s Le nozze di Figaro, the mezzo is blessed with a richly expressive voice enlivened with a quick and attractive vibrato. Sony Music has lavishly packed a two-CD set of Ms Bonitatibus in a range of arias all taken from operas inspired by Semiramis, the legendary Assyrian queen. Many of us know Rossini’s take on this (and Bonitatibus gives a brilliantly sung 'Bel raggio lusinghier') but much of this repertory is unknown and several of the tracks amount to world premiere recordings. Covering well over a century of music, this is an extraordinary document exceptionally performed by both the mezzo and the excellent Accademia degli Astrusi and La Stagione Armonica under Federico Ferri. A serious achievement, both musically and academically. […]