Two new recordings for Naïve's Vivaldi Edition have just been released by the Accademia Bizantina, conducted by Ottavio Dantone. These albums are the 59th and 60th in the series which aims to record the entire archive of Vivaldi’s work – nearly 450 works – housed in the Italian National Library in Turin. French contralto Delphine Galou is the soloist on both albums: Musica … [Read more...] about Interview with contralto Delphine Galou: “making music together with love”
Baroque
Cecilia Bartoli pulls out of her Baroque project at La Scala in October
Cecilia Bartoli has cancelled her participation in the baroque trilogy at La Scala, which was created around her. The project will present three Handel operas over the next three seasons, in the autumn of 2019 (Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare in Egitto), 2020 (Semele) and 2021 (Ariodante). When tickets went on sale yesterday for Robert Carsen’s new production of Giulio Cesare … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli pulls out of her Baroque project at La Scala in October
Alek Shrader directs Dido & Aeneas in the Catacombs of New York
Henry Purcell's Dido & Aeneas will be presented in the Catacombs of the Green-Wood Cemetery, in Brooklyn, New York, with performances from 4 – 8 June. The run will launch the second season of the The Angel’s Share series, which continues until October. Tenor Alek Shrader will be directing and he’s chosen to incorporate spoken dialogue from Christopher Marlowe's play Dido, … [Read more...] about Alek Shrader directs Dido & Aeneas in the Catacombs of New York
Countertenor Philippe Jaroussky talks about his new album “Ombra mai fu”
French countertenor Philippe Jaroussky explores the arias of Francesco Cavalli on his new album Ombra mai fu, which was released digitally on 8 March and physically on CD and vinyl on 22 March. Why Cavalli? Jaroussky says, Beyond the great musical interest that Cavalli offers, his operas are notable for their richness and modernity, and for the diversity and complexity of … [Read more...] about Countertenor Philippe Jaroussky talks about his new album “Ombra mai fu”
In conversation with Jakub Józef Orliński – the new countertenor on the block
Jakub Józef Orliński is the new countertenor name to add to an ever-growing roster of artists who are selling discs and selling out concert halls in this once rarefied area of the vocal arts. Polish singer Orliński is 27 and Anima Sacra, his debut album, will be released by Erato on 26 October 2018. It contains eleven Neapolitan arias of which eight are world premiere … [Read more...] about In conversation with Jakub Józef Orliński – the new countertenor on the block
Cecilia Bartoli Baroque Project announced at La Scala – Giulio Cesare, Semele, Ariodante
Today, La Scala announced a project to widen the knowledge and appreciation of Baroque music, in a country that has produced so much, yet now often overlooks a genre that is booming in other parts of the world. Cecilia Bartoli — who made a guest appearance last night at the end of Javier Camarena’s Italian debut concert as part of the Pavia Sacred Music Festival— will be … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli Baroque Project announced at La Scala – Giulio Cesare, Semele, Ariodante
Interview with Cecilia Bartoli on religion, the Sistine Chapel and Salzburg
This evening, Cecilia Bartoli will become the first woman to sing in the Sistine Chapel. Though, strictly speaking, she was already the first – albeit in a private form – when she recorded the disc Veni domine there, earlier this year. The Sistine Chapel Choir is made up of men's voices and boy sopranos, yet Bartoli singing with them is a return to medieval monody when … [Read more...] about Interview with Cecilia Bartoli on religion, the Sistine Chapel and Salzburg
Preview peek at La Scala’s new production of Tamerlano starring Domingo, Mehta, Fagioli, Crebassa and Schiavo
La Scala’s Baroque Orchestra returns, after last year’s successful Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, for a new production of Handel’s Tamerlano, again conducted by Diego Fasolis. An impressive cast features Bejun Mehta as Tamerlano, Plácido Domingo as Bajazet, Marianne Crebassa as Irene, Franco Fagioli as Andronico, and Maria Grazia Schiavo as Asteria. It also marks … [Read more...] about Preview peek at La Scala’s new production of Tamerlano starring Domingo, Mehta, Fagioli, Crebassa and Schiavo
Claudio Monteverdi, opera’s first master, was born 450 years ago
Two events make 1567 a watershed year in the history of music's relationship to words. In Rome, Palestrina (c. 1525- 1594), the greatest master of Italian Renaissance polyphony, published his most famous composition, the Missa Papae Marcelli (Pope Marcellus Mass); and in provincial Cremona, Claudio Monteverdi was born. One style of music reached its apogee just as the leader of … [Read more...] about Claudio Monteverdi, opera’s first master, was born 450 years ago
Cecilia Bartoli and Antonio Pappano in conversation and concert in Rome
Cecilia Bartoli and Antonio Pappano celebrated Mozart’s 261st birthday with a concert in Rome. Pappano was conducting his orchestra and chorus of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia at the Parco della Musica auditorium, which is Bartoli’s choice venue on the few occasions when she sings in her home town. ANSA wrote that, Mozart couldn’t have been given a more … [Read more...] about Cecilia Bartoli and Antonio Pappano in conversation and concert in Rome