Opera Rara’s recording of Le Willis gives listeners the chance to hear Puccini’s first opera as it has not been heard for more than 120 years. Making use of the new Ricordi edition, Sir Mark Elder conducts a star cast that brings the acclaimed soprano Ermonela Jaho back for her second recording with Opera Rara and introduces the thrilling Armenian tenor Arsen Soghomonyan. This recording includes the two celebrated arias that were added to the revised two-act version of Le Villi and showcases the young and prodigiously talented composer in his first exploration of operatic drama.

“The cast was exceptional. Ermonela Jaho is justifiably famous for her Puccini interpretations and superb vocalism. […] Arsen Soghomonyan’s Roberto was equally assured. He has a lovely covered quality in his tone, is thrillingly secured above the stave, and he colours and phrases most musically and effectively. As Guglielmo, Brian Mulligan sang with resonance and bite in a role that tests the singer at both ends of a very wide range” – Alexander Campbell, Classical Source

“Elder is a dab hand at this genre of Italian opera and got splendid playing and singing from the LPO and the OR chorus.” – Hugh Canning, the Sunday Times

“The performance by the LPO was energized with nuances of dynamics and colour carefully etched in the witches’ dance music and the ardent love music […] Soghomonyan, formerly a baritone, boasts a velvety, ardent tone and sang the role with considerable sensitivity: he is surely a name to watch out for.” – Alexandra Wilson, Opera

“[Arsen Soghomonyan] has a burly voice of burnished bronze and honeyed sweetness where necessary” – Jim Prichard, Seen and Heard

Cast:
- Anna: Ermonela Jaho
- Roberto: Arsen Soghomonyan
- Guglielmo: Brian Mulligan

Studio recording from the Henry Wood Hall, London, November 2018