GAETANO DONIZETTI (1797-1848): Les Martyrs.

Description: When Polituo was banned in Italy, because it depicted the martyrdom of a Christian saint, Donizetti revised the work for France, keeping three-quarters of the music but adding a new overture, the requisite ballet divertissement and a concertato finale in addition to rewriting the tenor arias to suit a different singer. This was premiered in Paris in 1840. At least two mono pirate versions with Leyla Gencer were once available on CD but this is its first commercial recording. 3 CDs. Joyce El-Khoury (soprano), Michael Spyres (tenor), David Kempster (baritone), Brindley Sherratt (bass), Opera Rara Chorus, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment; Mark Elder.