From the mid-1820s onwards Auber’s career was filled with success. His opéras-comiques and grands opéras won repeated acclaim for their myriad qualities of Parisian elegance. The fifth volume in this series features two of his Sicilian operas and both centre on well-delineated female characters. Brimming with grace, charm and lyricism, the extensive ballet from Zerline exemplifies why Auber’s music was so popular. Philippe Musard’s Quadrille no.2 on themes from Zanetta shows the extent of Auber’s contemporary popularity and is a revealing cultural souvenir of the period.

Vol.1 is on 8574005. ClassicsToday.com wrote of it: ‘The present release deserves attention on account of the repertoire’s rarity’ whilst MusicWeb International praised ‘The sound quality on this disc is clear and detailed... It serves to present these interesting and enlightening accounts of less than familiar scores in the best possible light.’ Vol.2 is on 8574006: ‘Salvi’s interpretation of Auber’s music is very refined indeed and one can hear the attention to detail and level of personal research that has gone into the performance in every track on the disc’ (The Light Music Society).

Dario Salvi is a Scottish-Italian conductor, musicologist and researcher who specialises in the restoration and performance of rare works. Salvi conducts symphonic works, ballet, opera and operettas across Europe, the Middle East and the US. His passion is the rediscovery and performance of long-forgotten masterpieces. He is currently collaborating with Naxos on recordings of Romantic ballets and a series on Auber’s overtures and orchestral music. Other important projects include recording Viennese operettas by Johann Strauss II, Franz von Suppé, Carl Michael Ziehrer and others, as well as completing world premiere recordings of works by Giacomo Meyerbeer and Engelbert Humperdinck.

Dario Salvi has conducted the world premiere recording of Bronsart’s Jery und Bätely (8660476), praised by the Operetta Research Center: ‘Salvi turns this symphonic piece into a veritable musical tableau, which he colours with his beautifully nuanced baton’. His other releases include world premieres of operettas by Johann Strauss II – Blindekuh (866043435) and Waldmeister (866048990).