Credits:

Nicola Pascoli

Description:

Michele Calafa was a 19th-century composer born in Naples who made his mark in France; he studied under Cherubini and was friends with Rossini. His most famous opera, *Massaniello*, tells the story of Massaniello, a fisherman who, suffering from heavy taxes and the tyranny of his lords, led a rebellion sparked by the introduction of a fruit tax. Although he seized power, he was ultimately destroyed by intrigue, jealousy, madness, ultimately leading to his downfall and assassination. The Calaf brothersaristocrats who were lynched and beheaded by the mob during the 1647 Naples uprising that inspired the operawere the composers ancestors. The music features a dramatic structure that incorporates the French style, which emphasizes the narrative, without relying too heavily on the bel canto style typical of Italian opera. On this live recording, the castled by the Turkish tenor Melt Sung in the ti