Once known for his stately grand operas, Gaspare Spontini posthumously surprised posterity with a light-hearted 'commedia per musica' that was found at an antiquarian book dealer in England in 2006 and performed for the first time since 1800 at the Festival Pergolesi e Spontini in Jesi, Italy.

With its motoric ensembles, intensifying rhythmic repetitions and imaginative play with word fragments, La fuga in maschera anticipates Rossini at his best.

Known for their historically informed performances, I Virtuosi Italiani is considered as “one of the most dynamic and able-bodied ensembles in the international musical world” (Milano Finanza). Corrado Rovaris and I Virtuosi Italiani play with immense verve and joy

Convincing in their roles as young lovers are the young singers who are also “masters in the ancient art of commedia dell’arte” (la Repubblica) - Ruth Rosique, Caterina Di Tonno, Alessandra Marianelli, Clemente Paliotti, Filippo Morace, Alessandro Spina and Dionigi D’Ostuni.

Picture format: NTSC - 16:9
Sound format: PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1
Region code: All (worldwide)
Subtitles: English, German, French, Italian
Booklet notes: English, German, French
Running time: 145 mins
German FSK: 0