Opera Rara
@operarara.bsky.social
Rewriting Operatic History:
Lost and Forgotten Operas Restored
Artistic Director: Carlo Rizzi
Artist Ambassadors: Ermonela Jaho & Michael Spyres
Lost and Forgotten Operas Restored
Artistic Director: Carlo Rizzi
Artist Ambassadors: Ermonela Jaho & Michael Spyres
Happy Birthday Gaetano Donizetti who was born #OnThisDay in 1797! If you're in Bergamo celebrating at the Donizetti Opera Festival, be sure to stop by at our 2nd Donizetti Brunch tomorrow featuring performances of his songs and ensembles.
Explore the programme here 👀 ow.ly/ETrb50XyIq9
Explore the programme here 👀 ow.ly/ETrb50XyIq9
November 29, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Happy Birthday Gaetano Donizetti who was born #OnThisDay in 1797! If you're in Bergamo celebrating at the Donizetti Opera Festival, be sure to stop by at our 2nd Donizetti Brunch tomorrow featuring performances of his songs and ensembles.
Explore the programme here 👀 ow.ly/ETrb50XyIq9
Explore the programme here 👀 ow.ly/ETrb50XyIq9
Black Friday Sales, a new podcast series on the life of Puccini, two new Donizetti tracks recorded with Sarah Dufresne and our Artistic Director Carlo Rizzi available now, and more... 🎧
Read our November newsletter here ➡️ mailchi.mp/fc4cbd6e2ea7...
Read our November newsletter here ➡️ mailchi.mp/fc4cbd6e2ea7...
November 28, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Black Friday Sales, a new podcast series on the life of Puccini, two new Donizetti tracks recorded with Sarah Dufresne and our Artistic Director Carlo Rizzi available now, and more... 🎧
Read our November newsletter here ➡️ mailchi.mp/fc4cbd6e2ea7...
Read our November newsletter here ➡️ mailchi.mp/fc4cbd6e2ea7...
This Black Friday, until midnight GMT next Monday 1 December, we're offering 50% off selected CD boxsets 🎶 Complete your collection or give a loved one the gift of rare opera 🎹
Explore our shop here: opera-rara.com/shopcatalogue?
Explore our shop here: opera-rara.com/shopcatalogue?
November 28, 2025 at 12:17 PM
This Black Friday, until midnight GMT next Monday 1 December, we're offering 50% off selected CD boxsets 🎶 Complete your collection or give a loved one the gift of rare opera 🎹
Explore our shop here: opera-rara.com/shopcatalogue?
Explore our shop here: opera-rara.com/shopcatalogue?
Are you ready to be blown away? Ths time next week, we return to London's Barbican to present the final, 1921 version of Puccini's La rondine.
This is a studio clip of Carlo Rizzi conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Ermonela Jaho in Magda's Act 1 aria "Chi il bel sogno di Doretta" ✨
This is a studio clip of Carlo Rizzi conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Ermonela Jaho in Magda's Act 1 aria "Chi il bel sogno di Doretta" ✨
November 28, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Are you ready to be blown away? Ths time next week, we return to London's Barbican to present the final, 1921 version of Puccini's La rondine.
This is a studio clip of Carlo Rizzi conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Ermonela Jaho in Magda's Act 1 aria "Chi il bel sogno di Doretta" ✨
This is a studio clip of Carlo Rizzi conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Ermonela Jaho in Magda's Act 1 aria "Chi il bel sogno di Doretta" ✨
"A recording of historical significance – and a true world premiere on disc – is Meyerbeer’s Dinorah… the performance is right on the mark offering some highly impressive singing." - The New York Times
Listen to our November Recording of the Month now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcaK...
Listen to our November Recording of the Month now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcaK...
November 27, 2025 at 2:27 PM
"A recording of historical significance – and a true world premiere on disc – is Meyerbeer’s Dinorah… the performance is right on the mark offering some highly impressive singing." - The New York Times
Listen to our November Recording of the Month now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcaK...
Listen to our November Recording of the Month now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcaK...
Introducing today the final three members of our La rondine cast, all of whom we've worked with before and happy to have with us in London again:
🎶 British soprano Ellie Neate as Lisette
🎵 Peruvian tenor Iván Ayón-Rivas as Ruggero
🎼 Italian baritone Nicola Alaimo as Rambaldo
🎶 British soprano Ellie Neate as Lisette
🎵 Peruvian tenor Iván Ayón-Rivas as Ruggero
🎼 Italian baritone Nicola Alaimo as Rambaldo
November 26, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Introducing today the final three members of our La rondine cast, all of whom we've worked with before and happy to have with us in London again:
🎶 British soprano Ellie Neate as Lisette
🎵 Peruvian tenor Iván Ayón-Rivas as Ruggero
🎼 Italian baritone Nicola Alaimo as Rambaldo
🎶 British soprano Ellie Neate as Lisette
🎵 Peruvian tenor Iván Ayón-Rivas as Ruggero
🎼 Italian baritone Nicola Alaimo as Rambaldo
Join us this Friday on our YouTube channel for the launch of our second series of Lives in Song hosted by Flora Willson. This season we turn our focus to the life of Giacomo Puccini. Joining Flora for the first episode is musicologist Ditlev Rindom.
More info here ➡️ opera-rara.com/podcast_seri...
More info here ➡️ opera-rara.com/podcast_seri...
November 25, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Join us this Friday on our YouTube channel for the launch of our second series of Lives in Song hosted by Flora Willson. This season we turn our focus to the life of Giacomo Puccini. Joining Flora for the first episode is musicologist Ditlev Rindom.
More info here ➡️ opera-rara.com/podcast_seri...
More info here ➡️ opera-rara.com/podcast_seri...
A little celebration today of recent nominations & recognitions - International Classical Music Awards nominations, @prestomusic.bsky.social Top 100 Recordings of the Year, Limelight Editor's Choice & Crescendo's Millésime 2025 🎉
Thank you to all the critics who continue to write about our work 🙏 🙏
Thank you to all the critics who continue to write about our work 🙏 🙏
November 25, 2025 at 9:46 AM
A little celebration today of recent nominations & recognitions - International Classical Music Awards nominations, @prestomusic.bsky.social Top 100 Recordings of the Year, Limelight Editor's Choice & Crescendo's Millésime 2025 🎉
Thank you to all the critics who continue to write about our work 🙏 🙏
Thank you to all the critics who continue to write about our work 🙏 🙏
In October 2024, Germán Enrique Alcántara gave the UK premiere performance of Ana Carrique's song cycle Coplas puntanas (1939) at a recital at the Royal Ballet and Opera
A year later, we got to hear 'A Patay huele la luna' from the same cycle for our 55th season launch at Temple Music Foundation
A year later, we got to hear 'A Patay huele la luna' from the same cycle for our 55th season launch at Temple Music Foundation
November 24, 2025 at 3:57 PM
In October 2024, Germán Enrique Alcántara gave the UK premiere performance of Ana Carrique's song cycle Coplas puntanas (1939) at a recital at the Royal Ballet and Opera
A year later, we got to hear 'A Patay huele la luna' from the same cycle for our 55th season launch at Temple Music Foundation
A year later, we got to hear 'A Patay huele la luna' from the same cycle for our 55th season launch at Temple Music Foundation
For all you Donizetti lovers out there, we have a special surprise for you! Next Friday, we'll be releasing two bonus tracks recorded with Canadian soprano Sarah Dufresne and our Artistic Director Carlo Rizzi.
Watch this space for more info 💡🎶🎧
Watch this space for more info 💡🎶🎧
November 21, 2025 at 12:44 PM
For all you Donizetti lovers out there, we have a special surprise for you! Next Friday, we'll be releasing two bonus tracks recorded with Canadian soprano Sarah Dufresne and our Artistic Director Carlo Rizzi.
Watch this space for more info 💡🎶🎧
Watch this space for more info 💡🎶🎧
If you read Ditlev Rindom's Puccini interview, you'll spot that he talks about the role of Prunier being sung by a baritone in Version 2, and a tenor in Version 3 of La rondine.
For our 💿 recording, we'll work with both tenor Juan Francisco Gattell (V3) & baritone Mattia Olivieri (V2 appendix) 🎶
For our 💿 recording, we'll work with both tenor Juan Francisco Gattell (V3) & baritone Mattia Olivieri (V2 appendix) 🎶
November 20, 2025 at 12:32 PM
If you read Ditlev Rindom's Puccini interview, you'll spot that he talks about the role of Prunier being sung by a baritone in Version 2, and a tenor in Version 3 of La rondine.
For our 💿 recording, we'll work with both tenor Juan Francisco Gattell (V3) & baritone Mattia Olivieri (V2 appendix) 🎶
For our 💿 recording, we'll work with both tenor Juan Francisco Gattell (V3) & baritone Mattia Olivieri (V2 appendix) 🎶
"All six singers then featured in a Sunday brunch recital... packed to the gunwales with rarities and premieres, accompanied deftly by Giulio Zappa" - @bachtrack.com @larkingrumple.bsky.social
Some pictures from our recent trip to Bergamo for our new collab. with the Donizetti Opera Festival!
Some pictures from our recent trip to Bergamo for our new collab. with the Donizetti Opera Festival!
November 19, 2025 at 1:35 PM
"All six singers then featured in a Sunday brunch recital... packed to the gunwales with rarities and premieres, accompanied deftly by Giulio Zappa" - @bachtrack.com @larkingrumple.bsky.social
Some pictures from our recent trip to Bergamo for our new collab. with the Donizetti Opera Festival!
Some pictures from our recent trip to Bergamo for our new collab. with the Donizetti Opera Festival!
Watch here - our pledge form is now live: www.youtube.com/watch?v=43bQ...
November 18, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Watch here - our pledge form is now live: www.youtube.com/watch?v=43bQ...
Donizetti's 'Luna e stelle della notte' was found in Sweden's Nydahl Collection. It was recorded for the 1st time ever by Marie-Nicole Lemieux in Volume 4 of our #DonizettiSongProject, and performed live for the 1st time in modern times by Germán Enrique Alcántara 🎶 www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs7z...
November 14, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Donizetti's 'Luna e stelle della notte' was found in Sweden's Nydahl Collection. It was recorded for the 1st time ever by Marie-Nicole Lemieux in Volume 4 of our #DonizettiSongProject, and performed live for the 1st time in modern times by Germán Enrique Alcántara 🎶 www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs7z...
Today we'd like to introduce you to our grisettes in our revival of the final 1921 version of Puccini's La rondine on 5 Dec:
🎶 British/New Zealand mezzo-soprano @joannaharries.bsky.social
🎵 Colombian soprano Julieth Lozano Rolong
🎼Welsh soprano Jessica Robinson
We hope to see you there!
🎶 British/New Zealand mezzo-soprano @joannaharries.bsky.social
🎵 Colombian soprano Julieth Lozano Rolong
🎼Welsh soprano Jessica Robinson
We hope to see you there!
November 13, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Today we'd like to introduce you to our grisettes in our revival of the final 1921 version of Puccini's La rondine on 5 Dec:
🎶 British/New Zealand mezzo-soprano @joannaharries.bsky.social
🎵 Colombian soprano Julieth Lozano Rolong
🎼Welsh soprano Jessica Robinson
We hope to see you there!
🎶 British/New Zealand mezzo-soprano @joannaharries.bsky.social
🎵 Colombian soprano Julieth Lozano Rolong
🎼Welsh soprano Jessica Robinson
We hope to see you there!
We'll be recording Lives in Song: Puccini Episode 3 very soon with our Artistic Director Carlo Rizzi - let us know what you'd like to ask him and/or our host Flora Willson about the Italian composer ❔
1. Why is Puccini important?
2. What got you hooked?
3. Why the final 1921 version La rondine now?
1. Why is Puccini important?
2. What got you hooked?
3. Why the final 1921 version La rondine now?
November 12, 2025 at 10:29 AM
We'll be recording Lives in Song: Puccini Episode 3 very soon with our Artistic Director Carlo Rizzi - let us know what you'd like to ask him and/or our host Flora Willson about the Italian composer ❔
1. Why is Puccini important?
2. What got you hooked?
3. Why the final 1921 version La rondine now?
1. Why is Puccini important?
2. What got you hooked?
3. Why the final 1921 version La rondine now?
To all opera lovers headed to this year's Donizetti Opera Festival! This Sunday, join our Donizetti brunch to hear the Bottega Donizetti young artists in a selection of solo and ensemble pieces.
Including this beautiful duet sung here by Marie-Nicole Lemieux & Michael Spyres: ow.ly/47a250XpRtC
Including this beautiful duet sung here by Marie-Nicole Lemieux & Michael Spyres: ow.ly/47a250XpRtC
November 11, 2025 at 11:03 AM
To all opera lovers headed to this year's Donizetti Opera Festival! This Sunday, join our Donizetti brunch to hear the Bottega Donizetti young artists in a selection of solo and ensemble pieces.
Including this beautiful duet sung here by Marie-Nicole Lemieux & Michael Spyres: ow.ly/47a250XpRtC
Including this beautiful duet sung here by Marie-Nicole Lemieux & Michael Spyres: ow.ly/47a250XpRtC
Dinorah was our first complete recording release by Giacomo Meyerbeer and one which surprised its critics in 1859 who thought the composer capable only of large-scale grand operas.
This three-act opéra-comique is our November Recording of the Month: ow.ly/hlWm50XplBc
This three-act opéra-comique is our November Recording of the Month: ow.ly/hlWm50XplBc
November 10, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Dinorah was our first complete recording release by Giacomo Meyerbeer and one which surprised its critics in 1859 who thought the composer capable only of large-scale grand operas.
This three-act opéra-comique is our November Recording of the Month: ow.ly/hlWm50XplBc
This three-act opéra-comique is our November Recording of the Month: ow.ly/hlWm50XplBc
'Ermonela Jaho is surely one of the most eloquent and outspoken advocates for opera, championing its emotional depth, accessibility, and relevance'
Read Interlude's interview with Ermonela in which they spoke about Donizetti and reviving the 1921 version of Puccini's La rondine: ow.ly/4XX050Xogt3
Read Interlude's interview with Ermonela in which they spoke about Donizetti and reviving the 1921 version of Puccini's La rondine: ow.ly/4XX050Xogt3
November 7, 2025 at 10:45 AM
'Ermonela Jaho is surely one of the most eloquent and outspoken advocates for opera, championing its emotional depth, accessibility, and relevance'
Read Interlude's interview with Ermonela in which they spoke about Donizetti and reviving the 1921 version of Puccini's La rondine: ow.ly/4XX050Xogt3
Read Interlude's interview with Ermonela in which they spoke about Donizetti and reviving the 1921 version of Puccini's La rondine: ow.ly/4XX050Xogt3
Carlos López Buchardo (1881–1948) was one of the founding figures of Argentinian classical music.
This autumnal lament - 'Canción de Ausencia' (Song of Absence) - sung by Germán Enrique Alcántara with Anna Tilbrook is one of Buchardo's most famous art songs: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok6G...
This autumnal lament - 'Canción de Ausencia' (Song of Absence) - sung by Germán Enrique Alcántara with Anna Tilbrook is one of Buchardo's most famous art songs: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok6G...
November 6, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Carlos López Buchardo (1881–1948) was one of the founding figures of Argentinian classical music.
This autumnal lament - 'Canción de Ausencia' (Song of Absence) - sung by Germán Enrique Alcántara with Anna Tilbrook is one of Buchardo's most famous art songs: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok6G...
This autumnal lament - 'Canción de Ausencia' (Song of Absence) - sung by Germán Enrique Alcántara with Anna Tilbrook is one of Buchardo's most famous art songs: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok6G...
One month to go now and counting until our revival of the final 1921 version of Puccini's La rondine at the Barbican - Carlo Rizzi conducts BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Singers
Our Magda, Ermonela Jaho, of course needs no introduction ✨
Our Magda, Ermonela Jaho, of course needs no introduction ✨
November 6, 2025 at 12:19 PM
One month to go now and counting until our revival of the final 1921 version of Puccini's La rondine at the Barbican - Carlo Rizzi conducts BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Singers
Our Magda, Ermonela Jaho, of course needs no introduction ✨
Our Magda, Ermonela Jaho, of course needs no introduction ✨
📢 To all Lawrence Brownlee fans based in the UK 📢 Lawrence will be in London for one night only @wigmore-hall.org.uk on 22 November.
His programme with Iain Burnside starts with four songs from our #DonizettiSongProject including the beautiful 'Tu porgesti a me l'anello': ow.ly/tfC750XmqG3
His programme with Iain Burnside starts with four songs from our #DonizettiSongProject including the beautiful 'Tu porgesti a me l'anello': ow.ly/tfC750XmqG3
November 5, 2025 at 10:54 AM
📢 To all Lawrence Brownlee fans based in the UK 📢 Lawrence will be in London for one night only @wigmore-hall.org.uk on 22 November.
His programme with Iain Burnside starts with four songs from our #DonizettiSongProject including the beautiful 'Tu porgesti a me l'anello': ow.ly/tfC750XmqG3
His programme with Iain Burnside starts with four songs from our #DonizettiSongProject including the beautiful 'Tu porgesti a me l'anello': ow.ly/tfC750XmqG3
'I find his personality incredibly attractive... he comes across as such a warm and positive human, and seems to attract similar, sociable kinds of people'
'Why was Donizetti important?' asked one Lives in Song viewer... This is how our musicologist experts answered ‼️
#AskOperaRara
'Why was Donizetti important?' asked one Lives in Song viewer... This is how our musicologist experts answered ‼️
#AskOperaRara
November 4, 2025 at 1:29 PM
'I find his personality incredibly attractive... he comes across as such a warm and positive human, and seems to attract similar, sociable kinds of people'
'Why was Donizetti important?' asked one Lives in Song viewer... This is how our musicologist experts answered ‼️
#AskOperaRara
'Why was Donizetti important?' asked one Lives in Song viewer... This is how our musicologist experts answered ‼️
#AskOperaRara
What's the connection between Opera Rara, Ermonela Jaho and Spanish pop sensation Rosalía?
We're all featured on @herbertmusic.bsky.social's latest playlist inspired by Rosalía's new track Berghain.
Thank you so much Daria for featuring our #DonizettiSongProject: open.spotify.com/playlist/5Rh...
We're all featured on @herbertmusic.bsky.social's latest playlist inspired by Rosalía's new track Berghain.
Thank you so much Daria for featuring our #DonizettiSongProject: open.spotify.com/playlist/5Rh...
November 3, 2025 at 12:36 PM
What's the connection between Opera Rara, Ermonela Jaho and Spanish pop sensation Rosalía?
We're all featured on @herbertmusic.bsky.social's latest playlist inspired by Rosalía's new track Berghain.
Thank you so much Daria for featuring our #DonizettiSongProject: open.spotify.com/playlist/5Rh...
We're all featured on @herbertmusic.bsky.social's latest playlist inspired by Rosalía's new track Berghain.
Thank you so much Daria for featuring our #DonizettiSongProject: open.spotify.com/playlist/5Rh...
One song, two baritones, two pianists. Do you have a preferred interpretation of Donizetti's ‘Odi d’un uom che muore’, or do you appreciate each performer's unique take on this tragic work like we do?
Head to our YouTube channel to watch the full clips 🎶
Head to our YouTube channel to watch the full clips 🎶
October 31, 2025 at 1:49 PM
One song, two baritones, two pianists. Do you have a preferred interpretation of Donizetti's ‘Odi d’un uom che muore’, or do you appreciate each performer's unique take on this tragic work like we do?
Head to our YouTube channel to watch the full clips 🎶
Head to our YouTube channel to watch the full clips 🎶