Rossini's work about love, war, and the jealous rivalry between the Roman emperor Aurelian and Prince Arsace of Persia over the rebellious Queen Zenobia of Palmyra first premiered in 1813 at La Scala. This award-winning 2014 Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro production staged by Mario Martone features tenor Michael Spyers in the title role “with marvelous top notes to provide the Roman emperor great vocal authority” and soprano Jessica Pratt, making her role debut, is “more than a match as the Syrian Queen with an astonishingly lengthy and penetrating top E that would stop any emperor in his tracks.” (Express)

Composer: Gioachino Rossini
Conductor: Will Crutchfield
Venue: Rossini Opera Festival
Orchestra: Orchestra Sinfonica G. Rossini
Cast/Soloist: Jessica Pratt, Michael Spyers, Raffaella Lupinacci, Lena Belkina
Genre: Opera