Opera Proibita

Cecilia Bartoli continues to grow as an artist and as an intelligent contributor to the realm of musically important yet neglected works. The concept of this recital - exhuming works once censored by the Church as inappropriate - include works by Handel, Scarlatti, and Caldara, some of which have made their way onto the concert stage, and some that have fallen into the cracks of the plethora of music from this period.

Bartoli is here supported by the fine conducting of Marc Minkowski and Les Musiciens du Louvre. The songs range from the florid bravura of Scarlatti's 'Serafini al nostro canto' to the simplicity and restraint of Caldara's 'Aria di Santa Eugenia. Vanne pentita a piangere'. It is of interest to know that these arias were for the most part written for castrati rather than for the female voice and Bartoli seems to appreciate that fact in her manner of performance.

This is not only an album of gorgeous singing, it is also an important recording of premieres of works that, were it not for Bartoli's insatiable curiosity and intelligence, would probably never have been available for our enjoyment. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, September 05

This is singing of astonishing technical fluency and emotional power. I was not surprised by the ease and punch of her runs, trills, ornamentation; that is how Bartoli first impressed us. But in this recital, it is the power of her intense fragility, to borrow from e.e.cummings, that most moves me. The interpretation of "Lascia la spina" is breathtaking and heartbreaking. Like the fabulous Jo Stafford, she uses her amazing breath control as a means of emotional communication.

Through her last few CDs - the Vivaldi album, the Gluck project and now this current CD - Bartoli has emerged as a mature, full-bodied, full-on interpretive artist. There is no one on the current scene to match her for virtuosity, fearless risktaking, or emotional profundity.

This album is the most original and exciting classical CD release of the year! I love what Cecilia has done with this undiscovered music, she has more energy and brilliance than all other opera stars combined. I am actually glad she has stopped doing all this "regular" opera material, I don't need to hear any more Rossini and Mozart. Actually, by the end of 2006 which is Mozart anniversary year, we will all be really sick of Mozart... Based on this Opera Proibita album, I would like to hear ten more hours of early Handel and Caldara.
I wish other artists would leave standard repertoire behind and started singing this great music. Of course, not many people can actually sing these pieces, written for the great castrati, and Cecilia is one of the very few who can sing them with such bravura. The fast, acrobatic arias are dazzling and the slow arias are so beautiful. Vanne Pentita A Piangere is a real gem, and if it wasn't for Cecilia we would never hear it! This aria also displays her messa di voce, and ravishing pianissimo, they are to die for. Castrati were not famous for their upper range, and not required to have high notes as we know them today but I like the way Cecilia spices up these arias with few stratospheric high notes,they are totally brillianr and would make many sopranos green with envy, but she uses them with great taste.
I think the cover of this album is very witty, a tribute to that famous scene in Fellini's film classic. Indeed, in each aria Cecilia gives a us a little encapsulated movie scene. She is so good at making the text come alive, using many colors of her voice to highlight the effect. Her diction is perfect, but in case your Italian is little rusty, all the texts and translations are included. When you read them, you will understand how much feeling Cecilia puts into these mini dramas. Just listen to the way she sings this one word, "Moro, moro..." in Caldo Sangue.
There will always be detractors who will talk nonsense about her "deficient" technique, I understand they are jealous of Cecilia's talent, the little people. For the rest of us, there's always the joy of hearing Cecilia tear into "All'arme Si Accesi Guerrieri", she is at war with bland, insipid music! Thank God we have our Cecilia to remind us that music can be exciting and exhilarating. I love all these stories how people who only listen to rock music heard Cecilia on the radio and went to buy this CD. You should buy ten copies of it and give them to your relatives, I don't think they will hear any yelps in her fioritura, I know many of my friends will be getting this album from Santa this year. Mille Grazie to Cecilia for bringing us this great music!

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