We have a bit of historical fiction, quite a bit actually, on this week’s Sunday Opera (2/7 3:00 p.m.) with Alberto Franchetti’s homage to Christopher Columbus in a work commissioned by Genoa to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of Columbus’ voyage. Here, Columbus is beloved of his men after finding South America where he runs afoul of the natives but escapes with the help of the high priest’s daughter. The cast includes Renato Bruson, Roberto Scandiuzzi, Rosella Ragatzu, Marco Berti, and Gisella Pasino with Marcello Viotti leading the Radio Chorus Budapest and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra. Following the opera, we’ll continue the afternoon with more music of Franchetti with the intermezzo from his best known opera “Germania” and his Symphony in E-minor. We’ll conclude the afternoon with music of one of Franchetti’s contemporaries, Ildebrando Pizzetti, and preludes from his incidental music for a production of “Oedipus Rex.”
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The Sunday Opera: Alberto Franchetti's "Christoforo Colombo"
