Chiara e Serafina
was composed by
Donizetti
in less than two weeks in 1822. The opera bombed, and it apparently hadn't been performed anywhere again until this 2022 production at the Donizetti Opera Festival in Bergamo. The reason is plain to see; the libretto by
Felice Romano
is a preposterous mess, even by operatic standards. Set in the time of the wars between Charles V of Spain and Algeria, it is just pretty much random. The recording quality is also not great: boxy, although intelligible enough. Better news comes from the singers, a motley international group who mostly acquit themselves quite well. In the lead buffo baritone role of Don Meschino is the veteran
Pietro Spagnoli
, who has what it takes to keep things moving. The rest come from the Academy of Lyric Opera of the Teatro alla Scala, and those who keep an eye on young singers are advised to check them out. Tenor
Hyun-Seo Davide Park
and the baritone
Sung-Hwan Damien Park
, apparently unrelated and both Korean-trained, have distinctive voices that one wants to hear again, and soprano
Fan Zhou
is strong in the titular role of Serafina. Sample either of the two trios with which the opera concludes, and those also give an indication of the best news of all, namely that
's music is well worth a listen. It is not yet top-notch
, but he moves away from Rossinian set pieces into a more natural kind of drama and melody, even if the sequence of arias doesn't fully cohere (this is more the fault of the plot than anything else). This is definitely recommended for
buffs and those interested in rising singers. ~ James Manheim