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Puccini's La fanciulla del West in a production by the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

The cloudy mountains of Wild West California at the height of the Gold Rush form the setting for La Fanciulla del West, the most vivdly cinematic of Puccini's operas. Its characters come from the ends of the earth to the Polka Saloon, where they gather to drink, gamble, gossip and fight. The mining camp is full of men, with just one woman, the owner of the saloon, Minnie. She is a scripture-reading innocent, admired and respected by everybody. Into this environment comes Dick Johnson, in reality Ramirez, a bandit on the run. Despite her better instincts, Minnie falls for him, much to the annoyance of Jack Rance the sheriff, who fancies Minnie himself. Rance hunts Johnson down and is about to have him lynched, when Minnie finds a way to save him.

Presented by Martin Handley, with guest Alexandra Wilson.

Minnie ...... Eva-Maria Westbroek (soprano)
Dick Johnson ...... Jose Cura (tenor)
Jack Rance ...... Silvano Carroli (baritone)
Nick ...... Bonaventura Bottone (tenor)
Ashby ...... Eric Halfvarson (bass)
Jake Wallace ...... Vuyani Mline (bass)
Sonora ...... Daniel Sutin (baritone)
Trin ...... Hubert Francis (tenor)
Bello ...... Kostas Smoriginas (bass-baritone)
Happy ...... Quentin Hayes (bass)
Joe ...... Harry Nicoll (tenor)
Larkens ...... Andrew Foster-Williams (baritone)
Harry ...... Robert Murray (tenor)
Sid ...... Adrian Clarke (baritone)
Billy Jackrabbit ...... Graeme Danby (bass)
Wowkle ...... Clare Shearer (soprano)
Jose Castro ...... Jeremy White (bass)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Antonio Pappano (conductor).