Gaetano Donizetti, the great Italian opera composer, stayed between 1822 and 1838 in Naples, in a house in the luxuriant hillside area Posillipo, overlooking the island Megaride, where the siren Parthenope failed to charm Odysseus and threw herself into the sea. The beautiful surroundings inspired Donizetti to compose a series of vocal chamber music, songs for soprano, tenor and piano in French, the fashionable language of the time. “Nuits d’été à Pausilippe” contains 6 arias and 6 notturnos, highly atmospheric and evocative songs, in seductive bel canto style. • Also included on this new recording are the Soirées d’automne à l‘Infrascata, the successor of the previous song cycle. Soprano Letizia Calandra is considered one of the foremost interpreters of Neapolitan songs. Her unique, versatile voice, schooled in opera andearly music, is the perfect carrier for this genre, a blend of the artful and the folklore, the high and low culture of Napoli. The booklet contains a detailed description of each song.

• 1. 6 Ariettes Et Six Nocturnes (1836) Il Barcaiuolo. Barcarolle
• 2. Il Crociato. Romance
• 3. A Mezzanotte. Ariette
• 4. 4 La Torre Di Biasone. Ballade
• 5. 5 La Conocchia. Chanson Napolitaine
• 6. 6 Le Crepuscule. Romance
• 7. Il Giuramento. Nocturne a Deux Voix
• 8. L'aurora. Nocturne a Deux Voix
• 9. L'alito Di Bice. Nocturne a Deux Voix
• 10. Amor Voce Del Cielo. Nocturne a Deux Voix
• 11. Un Guardo Ed Una Voce. Nocturne a Deux Voix
• 12. I Bevitori. Brindisi a Deux Voix
• 13. Nuit D'ete a Pausilippe - La Lontananza. Arietta
• 14. L'amante Spagnuolo. Bolero
• 15. 15 Amore E Morte. (Odi D'un Uomo Che More) Arietta
• 16. Me Voglio Fa Na Casa. (Amor Marinaro) Chanson Napolitaine
• 17. 17 Qui Dove Merch. (Il Fiore) Duettino Pastorale
• 18. L'incostanza Di Irene. (Saria Piy Fida Irene) Duettino
• 19. Eterno Amore E Fh. Arietta