5/30/2023 0 Comments Vivaldi opera![]() ![]() Setting the tone for the album as a whole, which also switches between quick, energetic arias like the frenzied “Ah fuggi rapido” from “Orlando Furioso” and the militaristic call to arms “Combatta un gentil cor” from “Tito Manlio” and slower, more reflective pieces-”Leggi almeno, tiranna infedele” from “Ottone in Villa” and ‘Sovente il solo’ from “Andromeda Liberata”-this opening aria is also a statement of purpose, showcasing the continuing strength of Bartoli’s vocal agility and expressive range. Bartoli captures the full range of expression and emotion in the piece as it shifts between the raging vengeance of a betrayed wife and the soft pleas to her husband that he will be forgiven if he only comes back. The opening piece of the album the revenge aria, “Se lento ancora il fulmine,” from “Agrippo” capitalizes on Bartoli’s trademark rapid coloratura. There are just 10 arias in comparison to the 13 presented on “The Vivaldi Album,” and the intimate, refined sound of the French Baroque orchestra, Ensemble Matheus, conducted by Jean-Christophe Spinosi compliments Bartoli’s medium-bodied vocals. They allow us to revisit the energy and vivacity of the 1999 album, which still has the ability to thrill the listener with its largesse, and, as a result, to appreciate the greater subtlety and sophistication of her latest offering. Such comparisons are, in many ways, profitable. ![]() It is equally difficult to avoid drawing comparisons-perhaps intended-between the two works that so neatly bookend Bartoli’s recording career to-date. Marking Bartoli’s 30th anniversary with Decca records, it is difficult to avoid framing this return to Vivaldi as a significant point of transition for the singer. It also showcased Bartoli’s talents as a world-class interpreter and a passionate and exciting performer dedicated to historical verisimilitude in her craft. The 1999 album sparked a renewed interest in Vivaldi’s operatic works and positioned Bartoli as a champion of neglected or forgotten music. Cecilia Bartoli’s latest album, “Antonio Vivaldi” (2018) comes almost twenty years after her historic recording, “The Vivaldi Album,” which was released in 1999 to wide critical acclaim and incredible popular success.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |