Rossini initially postponed the opera's premiere to the 1819/20 Carnival season and demanded a higher fee, eventually receiving more than La Scala had ever paid its most prestigious composers.
Critical Reception
Despite being a hit with the Milanese public, running for 39 evenings, Bianca e Falliero was heavily criticized by critics and fell into obscurity after about ten years.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Rossini told the librettist Felice Romani, 'Be efficient and give me a canvas, so that I can pick the colours to muck it up,' indicating his approach to setting text to music.
Compositional Technique
The opera Bianca e Falliero adheres to a 1816 La Scala requirement for librettists, prioritizing 'pezzi concertati' (ensembles) over arias, resulting in only eleven numbers with no single arias for minor roles.
Recording & Production
This recording was made live at the Trinkhalle, Bad Wildbad, Germany, in July 2015 as part of the XXVII ROSSINI IN WILDBAD Festival.
Composition History
Rossini had to compose Bianca e Falliero in a compressed timeframe, making up for almost two months of lost preparation time, due to a last-minute request to write La donna del lago in Naples.
Composition History
Rossini received a commission for Bianca e Falliero from La Scala impresario Angelo Petracchi, who sent him a 'witty love letter' and a specific request for an opera for the 1818/19 Carnival.
