At last-a coloratura mezzo!
08/23/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Let me confess, first of all, that I have never been convinced that Cecilia Bartoli deserves quite all the adulation she receives. Second, I have always had difficulty completely enjoying "The Barber of Seville" - and other Rossini operas - because of his passion for coloratura mezzos, common enough in his time but an almost extinct breed today. If a modern mezzo manages to get through the difficult coloratura passages without totally disgracing herself, she still sounds old enough to be Rosina's mother. Bartoli not only sails easily and delightfully through the hard stuff; she manages to sound like a young woman in the process. The rest of the cast is excellent, and, being almost completely Italian, puts a liitle more zing into the acting than non-italians can achieve. Hearing this has not only put it on my wishlist; it has made me reevaluate Bartoli."
Bartoli as Rosina...the beginning
M. T. Risner | Soon to be NY, NY | 02/05/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"We must not be to quick to judge Ms. Bartoli's instrument based soley on this recording. She was only twenty three at the time and shows remarkable skill for someone whose voice is, in essence, only about 10 years old. Here she sounds much more like a true mezzo-soprano than she does today, her tone is dark and full--quite different from the light, ringing, bell-like sound that we attribute to her today. She sounds a trifle strained at the top of her register, near B and C, but this is not where the meat of Rosina lies. Her sound is consistant in the troubling middle range and even does a fair job with the low Gs that litter the score. Her natural charm comes through in the scenes of the opera rather than in her solo line. She plays wonderfully with Leo Nucci, the great Italian "working-man" baritone of the 80s, here heard in his prime before he started taking on the heavier Verdi repertoire. The rest of the cast is exemplary and the wonderful nuances of the Italian language are brought to the fore by native speakers. This is a wonderful recording of a truly wonderful opera. I was most pleased to add it to my collection."
The Previous Review is wrong
Bedengost | 09/24/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The previous review that said Bartoli has no high notes is completely out of his mind. Not only does Bartoli have the high notes her role requires, but she also has everything else. SHe is one of the few exemplary Rosina's on record and far surpasses Callas or any other coloratura for that matter( Sill's being an exception just on sheer characterization). IN addition to this the rest of the cast is wonderful, although some may prefer Sherill Milnes. This recording is wonderful and should be a staple in any opera lover's library."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1