Album: Roberto Alagna, Angela Gheorghiu, Mascagni: L'Amico Fritz (Deutsche Grammophon)

Irritated that some critics had attributed the astonishing breakthrough success of his Cavalleria Rusticana to the libretto, Pietro Mascagni decided to focus attention on the music of this follow-up by adopting the simple "wealthy landowner meets tenant's daughter, wealthy landowner marries tenant's daughter". Time has proved L'Amico Fritz a charming idyll, and provides a perfect vehicle for opera's golden couple Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu: the latter enchanting proceedings, sustained by Alberto Veronesi and cast.

Download this: Son pochi fiori; Son gli orfanelli