Rossini - Colbran, the Muse (Opera Arias) | Virgin 6945790

Rossini - Colbran, the Muse (Opera Arias)

Label: Virgin

Cat No: 6945790

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 1

Genre: Vocal/Choral

Release Date: 2nd November 2009

Contents

Works

Rossini, Gioachino

Armida
» D'amor al dolce impero
Elisabetta regina d'Inghilterra
» Quant'e grato all'alma mia
La donna del lago
» Fra il padre, e fra l'amante
» Tanti affetti in tal momento (Act 2)
Maometto Secondo
» Giusto ciel, in tal periglio
Otello (excerpts)
Semiramide
» Serenai vaghirai...Bel raggio lusinghier

Artists

Joyce DiDonato (mezzo-soprano)
Orchestra dell’ Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Roma

Conductor

Edoardo Muller

Works

Rossini, Gioachino

Armida
» D'amor al dolce impero
Elisabetta regina d'Inghilterra
» Quant'e grato all'alma mia
La donna del lago
» Fra il padre, e fra l'amante
» Tanti affetti in tal momento (Act 2)
Maometto Secondo
» Giusto ciel, in tal periglio
Otello (excerpts)
Semiramide
» Serenai vaghirai...Bel raggio lusinghier

Artists

Joyce DiDonato (mezzo-soprano)
Orchestra dell’ Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Roma

Conductor

Edoardo Muller

About

Is Joyce DiDonato the world's best Rossini singer?”, asked the New York magazine Opera News after the American mezzo sang the finale of La Cenerentola at Carnegie Hall in January 2009. “That title certainly seemed hers by sovereign right,” it continued; “Her phrasing was silky, her timbre rich and glowing, and her ornaments were impeccably stylish and utterly beguiling. Most impressive was DiDonato's combination of immaculate technical control with an air of wild, unstoppable joy. This was truly a moment to treasure from an artist who is at the very top of her game.

If La Cenerentola does not appear in this new recital, recorded in Rome in June 2009, her other signature Rossini role holds a place of honour: she has been described by the UK’s Sunday Times as “the world’s reigning Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia”.

Rossini’s two best-known comic operas proved essential in building the Kansas-born singer’s reputation over the last decade, but this recital focuses primarily on his serious works.

This Rossini programme includes two arias from La donna del lago. She takes the role of Elena, written for a soprano, but a great success in the 1980s for DiDonato’s idol, fellow high mezzo Frederica von Stade. The other arias on the CD were also all composed for soprano: they come from Otello, Semiramide, Armida, Maometto II and Elisabetta regina d'Inghilterra. DiDonato proved that she can triumph in music written for soprano with her complete recording of Handel’s Alcina and her debut in 2008 in the role of Mozart’s Donna Elvira; the performances at London’s Royal Opera House prompted The Guardian to describe her as “the real star … singing her first Elvira and nailing even the topmost notes,” while The Daily Telegraph praised her performance in a similar vein: “The star of the show was … Joyce DiDonato, who sang Elvira with a style, sensitivity and bravura that outclassed everyone else on stage.

A superstar in the Rossini repertory” - Chicago Tribune

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