Aristea (Cantata)

As the sole recording of Aristea, one of Donizetti's early works, this release is a must-have for fans of 19th century opera. Although Aristea might be categorized as a compact "cantata-opera," it was nonetheless conceived for extensive resources. Donizetti used a large cast and full orchestra for the work, which was written to honor Ferdinand I, King of the Two Sicilies. Conductor Frank Hauz and his Simon Mayr Choir have already won accolades for their recordings of music from Donizetti's time, including Mayr's Samuele (8572721-22) in which Andrea Brown, who takes the title role in Aristea, was noted for her "splendid dramatic singing" (MusicWeb International).