Work: Don Carlo: Ella giammai m'amo

Unlike the conucopia of duets Verdi wrote for soprano and baritone, his music for soprano and bass is much more limited and what exists is not exactly the acme of his output.

“The show must go on.” Carlo Colombara stepped into the breach caused by Simone Piazzola's indispostion to give a Rosenblatt Recital that only fired intermittently.

A concert like this could have three possible outcomes: one, frustration at catching just a glimpse of a multitude of operas without the benefit of character or plot development or the embellishment of sumptuous costumes or stage sets; two, inspiration to delve further into the world of opera, nudged by tantalising hints of dramatic tension and a world of emotions; or three, sheer escapism into a