Welcome

Welcome to tonight’s performance of Mercadante’s opera Il proscritto. Not heard since its premiere in Naples in 1842, Il proscritto was rediscovered by Opera Rara’s Artistic Director Carlo Rizzi during the early lockdown months of 2020. Following two years of painstaking restoration, we are excited to present this daring and innovative score for 21st-century audiences to enjoy. This is Opera Rara’s third complete recording of Mercadante’s work and their second collaboration with Britten Sinfonia.

Opera Rara and Britten Sinfonia first worked together on our acclaimed recording and concert of Donizetti’s Il Paria in the summer of 2019. Partnerships with great orchestras are at the heart of Opera Rara’s work, and we are both thrilled to continue this rich relationship between our two organisations.

We are delighted to welcome tonight an international cast of soloists, including Ramón Vargas, Iván Ayón-Rivas, Irene Roberts, Elizabeth DeShong and Goderdzi Janelidze, all of whom are making their debuts with Opera Rara. Soprano Sally Matthews leads a trio of British singers alongside Alessandro Fisher and Niall Anderson, all of whom are working with us for the first time. We welcome back Susana Gaspar after her performance in

Opera Rara’s 2016 recording and concert of Semiramide

Opera Rara is honoured to dedicate tonight’s performance to the memory of Anthony Bunker, whose support of our work as a trustee and donor was loyal and generous. Tony’s passionate commitment to so many cultural causes was inspiring, his insight was always perceptive and his humour was infectious.

It is a pleasure for Opera Rara and Britten Sinfonia to be working together and to welcome you to what promises to be an historic evening.

MEURIG BOWEN Chief Executive and Artistic Director, Britten Sinfonia

HENRY LITTLE Chief Executive, Opera Rara