MICHAEL WILLIAM BALFE (1808-1870): Satanella.

Description: Balfe’s 23rd opera dates from 1858 and concerns the love of the title character, a female demon, for a mortal engaged to someone else. If you know British “ballad opera”, you know what to expect: a few ensembles and choral numbers but mostly a string of arias designed to be sold as stand-alone songs for both amateur and professional performance just like hit numbers from 20th century Broadway. And, if you’ve heard any Balfe before (and there’s a lot more of it out there than there was in the 20th century), you also know that he could really deliver the goods. 2 CDs. Libretto available online. Sally Silver (sorpano), Christine Tocci (mezzo), Kang Wang (tenor), Quentin Hayes (baritone), John Powell Singers, Victorian Opera Orchestra; Richard Bonynge.