Cecilia Bartoli stars in this ebullient Zurich Opera House production of Rossini’s first French-language comedy opera described by the international press as “pure, unadulterated fun”. A DVD from Zurich of the acclaimed production by masters of bel canto comedy, Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier. Bartoli reminds us of her comic gifts and her naturalness as a stage actor — as well as her total sympathy with the music of Rossini. Muhai Tang conducts the historical performance ensemble La Scintilla, and the cast includes the acclaimed young Mexican tenor Javier Camarena in the title role. A superb comic cast revel in the knockabout plot and excel in their delivery of Rossini’s trademark vocal writing. Bartoli, “the passionate powerhouse of bel canto”, gives a thrilling performance with “breakneck coloratura in endless variation” (NZZ Online). Released in anticipation of Cecilia Bartoli’s 2014 Whitsun Festival at Salzburg “Rossinissmo” and in time for her appearance at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris in April 2014 as Desdemona in Rossini’s Otello.