Rediscovering A Lost Rossini Opera
On July 16, 2016, conductor Will Crutchfield will take up his baton to conduct the American premiere of Gioachino Antonio Rossini’s “Aureliano in Palmira” at Caramoor. With a wave of his hand, he will bring a long journey full circle. The opera, which tells the story of Roman emperor Aurelian’s 272 A.D. campaign against Queen Zenobia of Palmyra, has had a fascinating journey—from highly anticipated star vehicle to underwhelming opening night to obscurity to recent rediscovery as one of Rossini’s most beautiful works. Pictured is “Queen Zenobia in front of Aurelian,” by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1717).
