Rare Rossini 2 Early Operas

Jumping the gun on the 1992 Rossini bicentennial, Teldec has come out with two rare one-act Rossini comic operas, “La Cambiale di Matrimonio” (Teldec Video 9031-71479-6) and “Il Signor Bruschino” (Teldec Video 9031-71482-6) ($40 each).

Both laser discs capture Cologne Opera productions from the 1989 Schwetzingen Festival, as taped in the tiny, 1752-vintage Rococo Theatre within Schwetzingen Palace. Dating from Rossini’s 18th and 21st years, the operas are riddled with papier-mache stock characters and frivolous intrigue, but the scores--”Bruschino” more than “Cambiale”--boast several flashes of witty brilliance.

The productions themselves are intimate jewels, staged with restraint by Michael Hampe, set in elegant, Old World, Carlo Tommasi-designed drawing rooms and featuring reliable ensemble casts.

David Kuebler, the Detroit-born tenor who appears in both operas, is especially appealing as the scheming young lover Florville in “Bruschino.” Conductor Gianluigi Gelmetti consistently draws elegance and zest from the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra in the cozy pit--and each disc concludes with a brief interview with Hampe and Schwetzingen artistic director Gerhard Ruetter.