Whatever its dramatic merits – the libretto was rather toned down from a French melodrama in which Falliero comes to a grim end at the hands of the ‘powers that be’ but the librettist, mindful of the susceptibilities of Milan’s then Austrian rulers‚ opted for a happier though less powerful ending – Rossini’s Bianca e Falliero is a vocal showcase of an opera. The sheer ferocity of the vocal writing, the highly intricate harmony (not an early Rossinian habit) and its curiously erotic allure are awe-inspiring‚ as is the close gearing of the bel canto style to musical and psychological ends. Rossini was commissioned the opera by La Scala‚ Milan for its Carnival season of 1819-1820, where it was performed thirty times and then throughout Italy to some extent before largely disappearing into obscurity after 1846. Set in 17th century Venice‚ the story charts the machinations of a brutal father who would rather have the brilliant young general Falliero – coming home after defeating the enemies of Venice only to find his beloved Bianca promised to a rival and soon to be married – compromised‚ arraigned and executed than see him marry his daughter. The major highlights of the opera are the numerous ensembles, among which a fantastic quartet in the Third act, while the arias require a very serious vocal virtuosity from the soloists. Few recordings exist of that musical masterpiece, and the present album was recorded live in July 2015 during the XXVII Rossini in Wildbad Festival, with an orchestra handpicked from within the Brno Janáček Theatre Orchestra and the Brno Philharmonic. This is a welcome addition to the recorded repertoire.