Palmide Yvonne Kenny

Felicia Della Jones

Armando Diana Montague

Adriano Bruce Ford

Aladino Ian Platt

Alma Linda Kitchen

Osmino Ugo Benelli

Geoffrey Mitchell Choir; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra David Parry, cond.

Wags have sometimes called Il Crociato in Egitto one of Rossini's finest operas. It is, of course, not by Rossini, but was composed by Meyerbeer in a milieu where it was necessary to come reasonably close to Rossini's style in order to have a chance for success. Donizetti, Mercadante, Pacini, and Vaccai, who were also actively composing at the time (1824), also tended to copy Rossini. But this is not to say that there were no innovations in the Meyerbeer work. There were, some even being foretastes of Meyerbeer's French works. As an example, I could cite the grand march in the act I finale, and its foreshadowings of a similar, but much more elaborate march in the finale of the second act of L'etoile du Nord. Another example is the lyrical pathos of Adriano's "Suono funereo"

Among the many moments of great beauty, I would like to cite Palmide's big aria, and the trio "Giovinotto cavalier".

Go back to Meyerbeer page

This page hosted by GeocitiesGet your own Free Home Page