Rossini’s opera seria have yet to regain a regular place in the operatic canon, with the exception of William Tell. Garsington Opera have done sterling work to redress the balance and the new production of Maometto secondo will certainly add fuel to the fire. There are so many revolutionary ideas within the score that it is difficult to believe it was written in 1820. The first act in particular regularly sounds like Verdi or even early Wagner in the dramatic intensity of the writing and the ability to shape long paragraphs of seamless music. That there was no applause during act one was not a result of poor musicianship – which was thrilling throughout – but a lack of any gaps to enable us to applaud. The doomed Anna is one of long line of nineteenth century heroines who have to choose between love and duty. Her final suicide is tragic not only because of her individual loss but the loss to society which is un-necessarily polarised. Edward Dick’s production faces the racial and religious tensions full on, creating credible characters none of whom are simplistic or two-dimensional. Paul Nilon’s weak, vacillating governor, prone to turn to his hip flask at moments of crisis, is no match for the macho strength of Darren Jeffery’s Maometto. Anna is torn between her earlier infatuation with Maometto, who she had known as Umberto, and her growing relationship with Caitlin Hulcup’s bookish Calbo. The whole situation is doomed from the start and all we can do is watch it unfold.

However, along the way, there is so much glorious music, wonderfully sung, that the length of the opera is never a problem. As noted the first act contains some of Rossini’s finest choral writing, while solos lift effortlessly from the narrative. If the second act is rather more conventional it contains a number of block-buster arias to thrill any audience.

David Parry’s keeps the musical line tightly under control and his players give rich and colourful support throughout. The chorus – the men in particular – cover themselves in praise. I heard rumour that the production might be recorded – I do hope so. BH