OTTO NICOLAI (1810-1849): Il Templario.

Description: Nicolai gained his operatic chops in Italy and his own operas were in Italian before his last and most famous - Die lustige Weiben von Windsor. Il Templario (1841) is based on Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe and is a bel canto opera which follows in the tradition of Bellini while also having a historical position alongside the "reform" operas of Mercadante. Nicolai's German side is heard in the work's harmonic richness and colorful, sensual orchestration. The notes include the interesting philological work involved in reconstructing a performing version of the work since Nicolai revised it practically every time he conducted it and it exists in French and German versions. 2 CDs. Italian-English libretto. Tiina Penttinen (mezzo), Hans Christoph Begemann (baritone), Stanley Jackson (tenor), Chemnitz Opera Choir, Robert Schumann Philharmonic; Frank Beermann.