Hearing Cherubini’s relatively rare Eliza only reinforces how forward-thinking he was, both musically and dramatically. Composed in 1794, just three years after Mozart’s death, Cherubini engages with the opera’s Alpine setting through the use of regional song forms and local dialects. One notable feature is a recurring theme that can almost be considered a proto-Leitmotif, underscoring the composer’s innovation. This performance, sung in Italian and using recitatives rather than spoken dialogue, draws out the romantic currents within the score.

Gabriella Tucci takes on the title role with a predominantly classical style, though she effectively draws on her background in Verdi and Puccini during the work’s more dramatic episodes. The tenor role of Florindo proves equally demanding, and Gianni Raimondi not only meets but surpasses these challenges, particularly in his expansive Act I aria. Mario Zanasi, as Germano, has less vocal material, yet he impresses with the finesse and clarity of his baritone.