- Audio CD (Nov 9 2010)
- Number of Discs: 2
- Format: Import
- Label: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
- ASIN: B003QLY5JW
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Product Details |
Product Description
Album Description
Along with Andreas Scholl and David Daniels, Bejun Mehta (a relative of Zubin Mehta) is one of the leading countertenors of his generation. Mehta has appeared in Handel operas staged at Covent Garden, the Salzburg Festival, and Glyndebourne. Stunning selection of Italian arias from Ren‚ Jacobs - himself a countertenor - and his incomparable Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Jacobs' bold period-instrument sound has been a great success in Handel's Messiah (HMC90192829) and Julius Caesar (HMC90138587). Comes with bonus DVD: the 'making of' Ombra Cara with interviews and recording session footage:
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Longing for love... and death, Jan 17 2011
By Bartolome Mesa Gil "TOLO" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Ombra Cara (Audio CD)
I love Handel and have all his operas (many in several versions) and quite a lot of arias compilations by a wide variety of talented singers, released over the past decades, but very few have given me so much pleasure -and none have I listened to so many times- as this well-thought and exemplary recorded disc. I have always preferred a good contralto or mezzo(like Nathalie Stuzman or Vivica Genaux, to mention just two) in the high-flying and heroic roles Handel wrote for the greatest castrati of the era. All the arias recorded here were created by Senesino, perhaps with Farinelli the biggest star of them all. And, although we cannot know how he sounded, to my ears a good female voice is always more pleasurable in these parts than the uneasy and somehow tricky singing produced by countertenors, even the good ones. But now comes rising-star Bejun Mehta to prove me wrong. Here we have a wonderful and beautiful voice, with effortless coloratura, breathtaking legato and "spìanato" line, that by shading and expressive utterance is able to convey with supreme artistry a whole range of emotions -from desperation and fury to menlancolic longing or extatic joy-, displaying with stunning beauty the darkness and light of these highly demanding arias. The da capo parts are imaginatively embellished, boasting a wide variety of belcanto resources. And if he is good in the high register, he's notably impressive in the low one, exhibiting a skilfull use of the chest (a rarity among countertenors). In fact, you forget quite soon you're listening to a countertenor. This is just a great singer, producing glorious sound and engaging with abandon in all the artifice of the baroque, when the human voice and particularly that of the castrato reigned supreme. A rare treasure. Nobody interested in singing should miss it.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Masterwork, Nov 17 2010
By R.G.F. - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Ombra Cara (Audio CD)
In "Ombra Cara" Bejun Mehta draws from the pallet of Handelian countertenor repertoire and expertly paints an intricate picture rich with hues portraying the emotions of darkness and light, sadness and joy, resignation and determination, defeat and victory, despair and love. Using the talents of the Freiburger Barockorchester, the Handelian expertise of soprano Rosemary Joshua, and the unique conducting of Rene Jacobs (an accomplished countertenor himself) as his canvas Mr. Mehta creates a true masterpiece. This CD is a must-have for anyone drawn to the voice of the countertenor, to works of Handel, or to beauty itself!
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An absolute dazzler, Dec 31 2010
By Graeme Withers - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Ombra Cara (Audio CD)
I have long been in favour of CDs which come with a DVD, even when there is not much more than rehearsal footage [Natalie Dessay singing Bach, for example] The 14 minutes of this DVD are exemplary - not only will you never listen to a mere CD of Bejun Mehta, Rosemary Joshua or Rene Jacobs again without a vivid recollection of their work for this CD, but you will be charmed [all three conducting the final Sosarme duet], enlightened [Jacobs explicit and informative about countertenor singing] and enraptured [Bejun's opening aria - why is there no complete Amadigi di Gaula, for heaven's sake?].The CD in full will have you ecstatic, Handel-fan or not, so go without booze and tobacco, even, but buy it.
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