"Were I to name the living composers of Italy for the stage according to my idea of their merit, they would be in the following order: Hasse, Jommelli, Galuppi, Piccinni, Sacchini etc." (Charles Burney ,
1770). Burney's favourites were all internationally famous men in their time, yet performances of their operas are rare today. In the first programme devoted to the big-name opera composers of the 1700s, Paul Guinery introduces music by this top five, including excerpts from
Galuppi's // Filosofo di Campagna,
Jommelli's Didone Abbandonata and Sacchinl's La Contradina in Corte.
Producer Lindsay Kemp
Repeated next Monday 11.30pm