Giordano’s rarely performed opera is brought to life by a superb cast and the idiomatic, passionate conducting of Roberto Abbado. The beloved Mirella Freni is seen in a brilliant star turn as Fedora Romazov, the Russian princess who falls in love with her fiancé’s murderer (Count Loris) only to commit suicide when he denounces her. Sensational Plácido Domingo is a passionate Loris. Together they simply ignite the stage. Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet provides even more glamour by entertaining at the soirée in Act II. The sumptuous production is by Beppe De Tomasi, with sets by Ferruccio Villagrossi, and costumes by Pier Luciano Cavallotti. Performance date: April 26, 1997.