The prolific and versatile Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti, one of the central figures of Italian bel canto opera, also wrote around 200 solo songs. Most of them are rarely performed and some, until recently, were completely unknown. Curated by musicologist Roger Parker and under the leadership of Opera Rara’s artistic director Carlo Rizzi, Opera Rara presents the complete solo songs in a series of eight recital albums. The project makes a powerful case for Donizetti as a key figure in the 19th-century song repertoire, and for the importance of the Italian school in a field long dominated by German and French composers. Described by The Economist as “the world’s most acclaimed soprano”, Opera Rara’s Artist Ambassador Ermonela Jaho (Oper! Awards 2024 Best Female Singer, ICMA 2023 Artist of the Year, Opera XXI 2024 Best Foreign Artist) displays her exceptional capacity for emotional communication through song in volumes 5 (Italian songs) and 6 (French songs) of a series of eight albums to be issued between October 2024 and September 2026.

Tracklist:

1. La Ninna-Nonna “Dormi Fanciullo Mio”
2. Quando Il Mio Ben Io Rivedr
3. Il Pescatore “Era L’ora Che I Cieli Lente”
4. Donizetti: L’amor Mio “Amo SI, Ma L’amor Mio”
5. E Pi Dell’onda Instabile
6. Che Non Mi Disse Un DI!
7. Che Non Mi Disse Un DI!
8. Amor, Che Nullo Amato
9. Giovanna Gray “Io Morr! Sonata E L’ora”
10. Eterno Amore “Eterno Amore E FE”
11. Lu Trademiento “Ah Tradetore, Tu M’haje Lassata”
12. Non M’ami Pi “Non M’ami Pi”
13. La Tradita “Ah! Ingrato, M’inganni”
14. Se a Te D’intorno Scherza
15. La Conocchia “Quann ‘A Lo Bello Mio”
16. Dell’anno Novello
17. Come Volgesti Rapidi
18. Lamento Per la Morte Di Bellini “Venne Sull’ali Ai Zeffiri”
19. La Mre Et L’enfant “Un Voile Blanc Couvrait la Terre”
20. Au Tic-Tac Des Castagnettes
21. Depuis Qu’une Autre a Su Te Plaire
22. Malvina “Depuis Qu’une Autre a Su Te Plaire”
23. Au Pied D’une Croix
24. J’attends Toujours “Dans Sa Course Rapide”
25. Les Billets Doux “Billets Chris, Interprtes de L’me”
26. La Jeune Malade “Combien la Nuit Est Longue…”
27. La Chanson de L’abeille “Sur Les Fleurs Voltige Une Abeille”
28. La Nouvelle Ourika “DES Le Berceau, Toujours Avec Courage”
29. Faut-Il Renfermer Dans Mon me
30. La Savoyarde “Je Quitte la Montagne”
31. Heureuse Qui PRES de Toi
32. Deux Heures Aprs Minuit – Vous Dormez “Il M’aime Encore ? Doux Rve de Mon me”
33. Le Bal Masqu “Je Les Ai Vus Entrer Dans Cette Loge”
34. Les Revenans “Un Soir A L’heure O Finit la Veille”
35. Oui, Je Sais Votre Indiffrence
36. Le Prisonnier de Guerre “Marie, Enfin Quitte L’ouvrage”
37. Il Serait LA “Plus Ne M’est Rien”

UPC: 0792938025827
Label: Opera Rara Uk
Release Date: 12.5.25
Format: CD