Dionizetti: Belisario

When Leyla Gencer died at age 79 in 2008, the obituary in The Guardian (UK) called her “the greatest Turkish opera singer of the 20th century and a singing actor of formidable power and individuality.” Beloved of her fans, who called her “the greatest living prima donna,” Gencer made no studio recordings. Only live recordings like this from 1969 preserve her electrifying artistry, in a Donizetti rarity that is actually one of his finest operas. Newly translated Italian-English libretto included.