Search - Gioachino Rossini, Riccardo Chailly, Mariella Devia :: Rossini - Cantatas, Vol. 1 / Devia · Pertusi · P. A. Kelly · F. Piccoli · Teatro alla Scala · Chailly

Rossini renaissance

Armindo | Greece | 08/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Recorded a year or so after Devia's impressive recital performance of La morte di Didone at Pesaro festival (available by Bongiovanni label), this first Rossini cantatas recital offers more insight in a composer whom we mostly associate with comic operas. And who is better qualified to conduct Rossini works than Chailly.



Rossini's vocal writing in these pieces sounds more or less the same as in his complete operas and one could think these actually are scenes from operas but they're not. Devia is as great as in Pesaro and her voice is well captured by Decca's engineers. She uses a few different ornamentations which makes listening to the scena a new experience. In the cantata for Pio, the fine Pertusi, Kelly and Piccoli join in and with the help of the chorus, the result is sparkling.



The libretto is included and it helps. I wasn't bowled over by Rossini's music on this recital but I'm pleased to have it in my collection.

"