By 1833 Gaetano Donizetti had already refined his operatic voice, shaped in no small part by the great sopranos of his day, whose talents inspired him to tailor his music precisely to their capabilities. As Parisina, he found a muse in the soprano Caroline Unger. Unger had previously participated in the world premiere of La straniera and held the distinction of taking part in the premiere of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at the age of 21.

All of this underlines the crucial importance of the singer in bel canto, and this performance delivers on that with Marcella Pobbe in the title role. Pobbe offers beauty of tone and a commanding presence, making a persuasive case for a work that has been sadly neglected.