For many years Fabio Biondi has been investing Italian scores with his own form of imaginative and deeply-considered musicality, and it is no real surprise to find him extending his reach past the Baroque and Classical eras and into the early Romanticism with this Glossa release of Vincenzo Bellini’s opera I Capuleti e i Montecchi.

Bellini’s masterpiece, first performed in 1830 – to Felice Romani’s story of love confronted by struggles for power – seamlessly incorporates large sections from a previously unsuccessful opera and, as did Rossini before him, Bellini calls for a mezzo-soprano in the male lead role. Vivica Genaux is Romeo in Biondi’s production with Europa Galante (made in Rieti) and she is joined by Valentina Farcas as Giulietta and supported by Davide Giusti (Tebaldo), Fabrizio Beggi (Lorenzo) and Ugo Guagliardo (Capellio).

Fabio Biondi clearly aspires for his version of I Capuleti e i Montecchi to allow listeners to discover new details in and new perspectives on the musical score. In his notes he talks about his careful attention to questions of original acoustical conditions for an opera like this, how modern-day orchestral sizes are much larger than in Bellini’s time, the particular importance of score markings, and tempi choices.

Photos © Anne de Labra and Massimo Rinaldi