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Riccardo Zandonai: Francesca da Rimini on CD

The genesis of the story of Francesca da Rimini began with verses from Dante's Inferno, then expanded a few decades later by Boccaccio and finally in 1901, formed as a theatrical drama by Gabriele D'Annunzio who spun a film noir-ish tale with a fatefully flawed anti-heroine engaging in morally ambivalent actions during politically dark times under duress of fitful love. Sensing being able to capitalize on the irresistible lure the scandal had on a public both outraged and titillated, the librettist/producer Tito Ricordi commissioned the young Riccardo Zandonai, at the start of a highly promising career, to compose the music for this four act opera which had it's premiere in 1914 and remains the one work Zandonai is noted for. Recorded in Freiburg with leads Christina Vasileva and Martin Muhle in the leads the Freiburg Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Fabrice Bollon.