Latest releases reviewed.

BALFE: THE MAID OF ARTOIS
Soloists. Victorian Opera Chorus & Orchestra. Conductor: Philip Mackenzie Campion Cameo 2042-43
****

Dublin-born Balfe, whose bicentenary occurs in 2008, was a fine baritone and a highly successful composer of English operas in the 19th century. The cover of this welcome disc has a portrait of legendary diva Maria Malibran, for whom the role was written and who had a triumphant success at its premiere in Drury Lane in 1836. While the second act aria, The Light of Other Days Has Faded, was well known as a concert piece during the composer's lifetime, the opera as a whole has been more or less forgotten. As the work has not been performed for a very long time, Victorian Opera have had to reconstruct the music for this recording, revealing a pleasant, melodious score. Those who buy this enterprising release will be rewarded with charming, lyrical music and a glimpse into a fascinating world of ballad opera now gone. www.victorianoperanorthwest.org

Colman Morrissey