The Biblical story of Belshazzar’s hubristic arrogance set against the valour of the young warrrior-leader Cyrus provided the 20-year-old Rossini with a dramatic story with West-Eastern resonances which still speak to us today.

For the title role of Cyrus, Rossini wrote what would be his longest-ever contralto role, to which the great Rossini singer Ewa Podles is both naturally attracted and ideally suited. She is partnered by two young American stars of Rossini singing, Jessica Pratt and Michael Spyres, and a conductor-scholar, Will Crutchfield, of immense experience and sympathy.

Cast:
- Ciro: Ewa Podles
- Amira: Jessica Pratt
- Baldassare: Michael Spyres
- Zambri: Mirco Palazzi
- Argene: Carmen Romeu
- Arbace: Robert McPherson
- Daniello: Raffaele Costantini
- Ned Keene: George Von Bergen

Director: Davide Livermore

Recorded live at the Rossini Opera Festival, Pesaro, August 2012.

"In the title role, the booming contralto Ewa Podles gives the kind of old-style, intensely felt performance that is her trademark. As Amira, the soprano Jessica Pratt established herself in two daunting arias as a brilliant new presence on the bel canto scene." - New York Times

Running time: 165 minutes
Subtitles: EN/FR/DE/JP/KR
Sound format: 2.0LPCM + 5.1(5.0) DTS