ROLE DEBUT AS IDAMORE IN DONIZETTI’S ‘IL PARIA’ WITH OPERA RARA

René Barbera makes his role debut as Idamore in Donizetti’s Il Paria, one of the composer’s most innovative and daring works, conducted by Sir Mark Elder with the Britten Sinfonia in collaboration with Opera Rara. Opera Rara is known internationally for bringing rare and neglected operas vividly back to life; this occasion marks Mr. Barbera’s first performance with the company.

The concert-performance takes place on June 8 at the Barbican Theatre. The stellar cast includes Albina Shagimuratova as Neala, Misha Kiria as Zarete, Marko Mimica as Akerabare, Thomas Atkins as Empsaele, and Kathryn Rudge as Zaide. Sir Mark Elder conducts the Britten Sinfonia and the Opera Rara Chorus.

According to Opera Rara, the opera marks an important breakthrough for Donizetti: his first tragic finale. “… All the way through the opera there’s evidence of him trying to avoid the usual solutions. Also novel is the use of the chorus, the constant diving into arioso and a highly inventive orchestral palette all the way through. Il Pariamarks an important moment in Donizetti’s career and it went on record as saying that he was especially proud of the piece.” (Opera Rara)