Lo Frate 'Nnamorato

Among the most consistently pleasurable—and historically valuable—opera releases of recent years is the series of Pergolesi works from the composer's hometown of Jesi, which has provided generally excellent productions of the long-forgotten large-scale works of a man best known for his short comic intermezzos (see VL-7/12 for Adriano in Siria, VL-1/13 for Il Prigionier Superbo, and VL-5/13 for La Salustia and Il Flaminio). This latest issue showcases Pergolesi's 1732 second opera, which in many respects is an expanded version of the intermezzos, serving up a convoluted romantic farrago in which characters are besotted with others who don't return their yearnings—until last-act revelations about their real identities serendipitously match everyone up properly. And two maids are on hand to poke fun at their employers' ridiculous antics. Director Willy Landin updates the action to a 1950s-style Italian resort to good effect, with spiffy costumes and attractive sets depicting a café and a couple of villas (there's even a motorcycle onstage). The original-instrument band Europa Galante provides a fizzing account of the delectable score—grounded in baroque style, but with hints of incipient classicism—under the leadership of Fabio Biondi. None of the cast—including Nicola Alaimo, Elena Belfiore, and Patrizia Biccirè—are established stars, but they handle the vocal demands of arias and ensembles well, while successfully delivering the humor of the text. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and PCM stereo on Blu-ray, this is highly recommended. (F. Swietek)