Rhys-Evans:Gerrard:Cohen - ROSSINI: Le Comte Ory

Rossini occupied an unrivalled position in the Italian musical world of his time, winning considerable success relatively early in his career. Set in rural France at the time of the Crusades, 'Le Comte Ory', Rossini's last comic opera, is based on the story of a real-life villainous Count who attempts the seduction of a Countess as she awaits the return of her brother. The opera is one of Rossini's funniest, notable for its sequence of madcap situations set to music which is fast-paced, colourful and dramatic. Berlioz considered it to be Rossini's \absolute masterpiece.