L’elisir d’amore CD 1962

In this recording of the 1962 production, Donizetti’s sparkling orchestral writing was brought to life by conductor Carlo Felice Cillario. The production was designed and directed by Franco Zeffirelli with the lively and capricious Mirella Freni as Adina. This recording precedes Freni’s EMI recording of L’elisir d’amore.

Recorded live at Glyndebourne during June 1962.

Booklet contains full libretto in Italian, English, French and German, with synopses in English, French and German.

Composer: Gaetano Donizetti

Conductor: Carlo Felice Cillario

Cast: Mirella Freni, Luigi Alva, Emily Marie, Enzo Sordello, Sesto Bruscantini, The Glyndebourne Chorus

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

‘Her [Freni's] looks and her cantabile singing melt, so to speak, on the tongue, and she acts her teasing charades with Sergeant Belcore as if nothing were farther from her mind than cruelty.’ The Times, August 1962

‘Mirella Freni, the sparkling new Adina, rightly allowed real tenderness to shine through vanity and caprice.’ The Sunday Times, August 1962