Semiramide Ricordi Opera Vocal Score Series by Gioachino Rossini Voice - Sheet Music

BDSCalgary

Semiramide

Actually, this is a really excellent edition. It is clear to read, but that is not all. It contains a wealth of music and even the original version of Bel Raggio, which is extremely different from waht we have. The score also contains Rossini's changes to the contralto part, for evidently he had a contralto who had no high range, and so he wrote most of the part, just as showy, but concentrating more on the lower part of her range. All Rossini's music is contained in the score, and it is amazing the small differences to Semiramide's part -- supposedly Rossini's wife, whom it was written for, was nearly the end of her career and her voice wasn't what it was -- if what is written here is for a ruined voice, I wonder what a great voice sounded like -- though she goes to high notes she barely touches them. She was certainly by this time more a mezzo than the soprano she once was. Still, Rossini being who he was, certainly wrote music that showed her in the best light and is forever a real challenge for singers today. A minor role is written for a tenor, I say minor because he appears in only three scenes, but his arias are some of the most difficult in the opera, and his arias are ones often times cut. Sad when that happens, for they are truly masterpieces if not terrors to sing. Again a really great edition well worth it.

Karate D.

Excellent publication

Well-printed with legible ink (I say this because some that I've ordered aren't clearly printed). All the notes and words are clear, and the score is accurate. No complaints.