David Parry conductor
Carmen Giannattasio Ermione
Patricia Bardon Andromaca
Geoffrey Mitchell Choir

Rossini Ermione
Concert performance in association with Opera Rara, sung in Italian with English surtitles.

Of the many Rossini operas to have been long neglected in favour of the ‘old chestnuts’, Ermione has proved the most rewarding in its recent revivals. This concise azione tragica (tragic action) is full of surprises: its choral overture, its proliferation of tenors, and even the un-Rossinian seriousness of its ancient Greek subject matter. But Rossini’s power as a composer is stamped through its gripping ensembles, infectious choruses, and the tour de force soprano role of Ermione herself. Rossini wrote much on a whim, but this piece was, as he confided to a biographer, for posterity.

The Greeks may have won the Trojan War, but a violent chain of events sees victory turn to tragedy.
The opera begins as Oreste arrives at the court of Pirro, aiming to kill Hector's son (a Trojan survivor) and marry Ermione. Pirro provokes Oreste's wrath when he declares a sudden wish to marry Ermione himself. Meanwhile, Pirro is begged by Hector's widow Andromaca to marry her, and save her son. Pirro agrees. Ermione is furious at the scorn implied by Pirro's change of mind, and asks Oreste to avenge her by killing him. Before long, she regrets her furious demand, but she's too late: Oreste arrives to tell her that Pirro is dead by her order. Her subsequent hysteria turns him mad, and Ermione kills herself.

This performance will last for approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes including interval.

To hear extracts of this work select a track below to open the music file. (Windows Media Player required.)
Rossini: Ermione, Act I: Palace of horrors! Ah, How can I hide the flames
Rossini: Ermione: Sinfonia (with Chorus)

FREE 6.00pm-6.30pm | Royal Festival Hall
Opera Rara takes a fresh look at Rossini's lesser known opera Ermione.

Download the libretto of Ermione from www.opera-rara.com.

Full cast
David Parry conductor
Carmen Giannattasio Ermione
Patricia Bardon Andromaca
Loïc Felix Attalo
Paul Nilon Pirro
Colin Lee Oreste
Bülent Bezdüz Pilade
Geoffrey Mitchell Choir

Were you there?
Click on the links below to read a review of tonight's concert.
Financial Times online by Richard Fairman / March 2009
musicalcriticism.com by Marina Romani / March 2009
mvdaily.com by Robert Hugill / March 2009
timesonline.co.uk by Geoff Brown / March 2009
guardian.co.uk by Tim Ashley / March 2009