L'Americano (Piccinni)

Dynamic #177
Patrizia Ciofi (Silvia), Simon Edwards (Villotto), Giovanna Donadini (Donna Aurora), Domenico Colaianni (Lisandro); Eric Hull (conductor), Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia.
Recorded "live" at Martina Franca, July 1996 (XXII Festival della Valle d'Itria); released January 1999.
REVIEWS:

"The small cast is divided between a pair of lovers that do agree with each other (Silvia and Villotto) and a pair that don't (Cavaliere Lisandro and Donna Aurora). It all ends up happily, with enough comedy along the way to entertain the audience. The music is zesty but formula-derived and rather plain, with nothing in the way of clever invention. It's all pleasant enough, and the recording makes as strong a case as possible for it. Ciofi and Donadini are sprightly and bright, Colaianni on the dry side, but tenor Simon Edwards is a real find, with his easy-flowing lyric tenor, attractive timbre, and fresh appeal. Let's hear more of him! The recording was made at the first performances of L'Americano since Piccinni's day at the Festival della Valle d'Itria in Martina Franca, July 1996. Informative multi-language notes and an Italian-English libretto are included." American Record Guide Sep/Oct-97