Verdi's Un Giorno di Regno, the second of the composer's surviving operas, is an uproarious comedy written in the infectious style of Rossini and Donizetti. It is loosely based on an episode in the reign of the 18th-century king of Poland
Stanislas Lescinski, who travelled to Warsaw disguised as a coachman, while a French chevalier, Beaufleur (Belfiore), impersonated him to allow him to make good his escape. All this is merely a launching pad for the age-old comic situations of mistaken identity and young love temporarily thwarted by parental opposition. This recording was made at a live performance at this year's Royal Opera Verdi celebration at the Royal Festival Hall, London.
Presented by lain Burnside .
Royal Opera Chorus and Orchestra, conductor Maurizio Benini
Act 1

7.40 "I've no doubt it was a bad opera," said Verdi. lain Burnside and Michael Oliver re-evaluate the only comedy Verdi wrote before his final masterpiece, Falstaff.

8.00 Act 2