New at Noon: October 15, 2025
Longtime member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Puerto Rican-born English hornist Pedro R. Díaz of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra recorded his groundbreaking recording of the Concerto for English Horn by Gaetano Donizetti with his MET colleagues. Mr. Diaz found the music while on a research trip to Italy and says, “The Donizetti concerto holds a special significance for me. I actually discovered the original orchestra parts in the archives in Bologna, and through that research, I found out that even though Donizetti composed it in G, it was actually performed in F for its premiere.” We close Hispanic Heritage Month with the new recording. Listen Wednesday at 12;00 to hear it, NEW at NOON on WGUC!
As the principal English horn of the Metropolitan Orchestra in New York City, multi-instrumentalist Pedro Diaz stands distinguished as one of the pre-eminent contemporary English horn performers. In Bel Canto: Concerti for English Horn, with accompaniment from Members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (under the masterful direction of Ricardo Frizza), Pedro Diaz’ virtuosity brings life to compositions by Donizetti, Reicha, Pilotti, and Mares: four titans of the English Horn Repertoire.
However, Diaz’s contributions to the instrument extend beyond his performance; Concerti For The English Horn is the marvelous fruit following years of arduous academic research that has revived brought color to the instrument’s vivid history. During a pilgrimage to Bergamo (Donizetti’s birthplace) and Bologna, Diaz uncovered the original – never before seen – orchestra parts for Donizetti’s Concertino in F. The subsequent critical edition published by Diaz, and his performance captured in this recording have allowed audiences worldwide to finally hear Donizetti’s seminal work for the English Horn as the composer originally intended.
