"Everything about this CD is perfect. The music is great, her singing incredible, the production just right. This one will grow on you and sound fresh or different 5 years down the line. Warning: this recording got me into opera!"
This is my favorite Cecilia Bartoli recording.
10/10/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This artist's voice is hypnotic and compelling, very rich and expressive. I recommend this recording even for those who are not opera fans, as I am not. If you enjoy exquisite sound, you should hear this recording-a treat for the connosseur of any type of vocal music. I am presently on my second copy of this recording-I wore the first one out. My personal favorite is track 3, Giusto Ciel..."
Absolutely Brilliant
09/26/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is my favorite Cecilia Bartoli album. I especially love tracks 3 and 8. If you love a wonderful mezzo-soparano with a lot of flexibility in her voice, this is the album to have."
Incredible
Vivian Anderson | Tucson | 04/06/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is my favorite Bartoli recording. Her rich mezzo-soprano voice feels custom-made for Rossini. I own this CD-it's my second copy, I wore out the first one!
If you are browsing here in search of your first Cecilia Bartoli CD, this is it. It's one of the CDs I can't live without.
5+ stars!"
A fine disk of selections from Rossini operas by one of the
Craig Matteson | Ann Arbor, MI | 12/29/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Bartoli is one of the premier mezzo-sopranos currently singing. This music shows off her vocal flexibility and emotional range quite well. Rossini is the right kind of composer for her musical gifts because he allows the voice to sing beautifully and without pushing it to extremes. Bartoli displays her dynamic range, from a whisper to a full forte while maintaining a singing tone. Her range from low notes to high soprano notes is quite impressive and delights the listeners (as she and the composer fully intend).
Here she sings numbers from various Rossini operas with full orchestral accompaniment and some chorus to provide context. However, the point is much less the drama than the vocal display the selection allows Bartoli.
The notes provided that describe each of the works is very helpful as are the supplied lyrics and English translation.
This is a very pleasurable disk and one you can listen to many times and still find new delights. The only thing that I find the least bit difficult is when Bartoli resorts to aspirating vowels (putting an "h" on each note of the vowel) in runs and melismas. She doesn't do it all the time, but it is jarring for me when she does. It is really a flaw, but a minor one given all her great gifts and talents. It just gets in the way, however.
That being said, I still recommend the disk and say, ENJOY! Learn to love opera and it will enhance your life. Really, it will!"