The Cast

ADELAIDE - Majella Cullagh
OTTONE - Jennifer Larmore
ADELBERTO - Bruce Ford
BERENGARIO - Mirco Palazzi
EURICE - Rebecca Bottone
ERNESTO - Ashley Catling
IROLDO - Mark Wilde

Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Chorus
Scottish Chamber Orchestra CONDUCTOR
- Giuliano Carella
The Sunday Times

'Opera Rara's latest Peter Moores-sponsored excursion into the byways of bel canto takes it to Rossini's opera of 1817... a comparative flop, revived only sporadically and disappearing completely after 1825... But there's much thrilling music, and this live performance is given brilliantly by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and a fine cast, including Majella Cullagh in the title role and the outstanding Jennifer Larmore as Ottone.'
The Guardian

'The uneven score was written in haste, but there's some fine music, particularly when Rossini starts exploring territory that links the power of sex to the sexiness of power.

Opera Rara's recording, thoughtfully conducted by Guiliano Carella... features some mightily impressive singing from Majella Cullagh and Jennifer Larmore. Mirco Palazzi sounds gorgeous, if too young, as the usurper Berengario, while Bruce Ford is dramatically incisive... as Berengario's guilt-ridden, obsessive son, Adelberto.'
BBC Music Magazine

'This is a live recording from the 2005 Edinburgh Festival... Majella Cullagh offers a voice of jewel-like beauty in the title role, with Jennifer Larmore making light of coloratura difficulties as Ottone. Bruce Ford is firm and clear as Adalberto... Giuliano Carella conducts with spirit.'

Gramophone

'Another welcome exploration of neglected Rossini by Opera Rara with this fine new recording which is taken from a concert performance in the Usher Hall at the 2005 Edinburgh Festival. It is superior in every respect to conductor-editor Alberto Zedda's pioneering 1985 Martina Franca live theatre performance. It is uncut, better sung, better acted, better conducted, better played and far better recorded. Bolstered by Jennifer Larmore's superb Ottone and Bruce Ford's strong, incisive Adelberto, Majella Cullagh's Adelaide gets better with each scene, warming towards memorability.'