DESCRIPTION:
Rossini's comic operas, including all his early works, always include an obligatory (and when I say "obligatory", I really do mean obligatory) duet between the heroine and one of the lower voices, be it a bass or a baritone. It can come as a separate number or as a part of a larger construction (in "L'inganno" the introduction, basically, fulfills this need), but it's always there. I would probably attribute it to the fact that baritones and basses work well with female voices, both sopranos and contraltos, especially when we are talking about a piece for baritone and soprano. But, anyway, it's always there, no matter what height the heroine can reach :).

As an example of such a piece and in connection with the first section of my current series of uploads, I'm posting a duet from "L'occasione fa il ladro". Okay, here comes the plot... The heroine, Berenice, dressed up as a maid (while her sister is pretending to be her), has just announced to Parmenione, a man who has taken the name of Count Alberto (and his papers), that she is in fact the bride-to-be. She then proceeds to ask him a series of questions about "his" family and relations which finally destroys his masquerade. This is all shown in a delightful contrasting series of sections forming the present duet. First, a couple of "polite" couplets as the two masqueraders are gathering themselves and adapting to the new situation, set between a dialogue. Then, a brilliant presto as Berenice showers Parmenione with difficult questions. Another two couplets, this time sung in unison, as Parmenione celebrates his genius, while Berenice begins to fully question the identity of her "suitor". A virtually unaccompanied section details the continuation of the interview. Finally, the stretta finds Berenice confronting the liar directly, while the latter tries to save what is left of his lies.

Luciana Serra (who I always like in such roles) and Patrick Raftery (a singer unfamiliar to me until this recording, but very much enjoyable and charming as the wrong-doer) bring freshness to the whole proceedings. I do hope that the very "live" quality of the recording won't be an obstacle for enjoying the music. Enjoy :)!