Donizetti: La Favorite (2-DVD) - Veronica Simeoni, Celso Albelo

Composer: Gaetano Donizetti
Artists: Veronica Simeoni, Celso Albelo, Mattia Olivieri, Ugo Guagliardo, Francesca Longari, Manuel Amati, Leonardo Sgroi, Orchestra & Chorus of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Conductor: Fabio Luisi
Director: Ariel García Valdés
Format: NTSC
Language: French
Subtitles: Italian, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean
Dubbed: None
Region: All Regions
Number of Discs: 2
Studio: Dynamic
DVD Release Date: August 17, 2018
Run Time: 100 minutes

Set in 14th-century Castile, La Favorite tells the story of the hapless love between Fernand, who has second thoughts about taking holy orders, and Leonor, the mistress of King Alphonse XI. It is an intimate drama, where history and politics are but the backdrop to the protagonists’ passions and torments. Fabio Luisi’s conducting is both measured and personal, varied and vigorous. The orchestra is crystal-clear, neat in its accompaniment, neither subject to the voices nor prevaricating. Veronica Simeoni (Leonor), Celso Albelo (Fernand) and Mattia Olivieri (Alphonse) give excellent vocal and acting performances.

Notes in Italian and English.