A Memorable Portrait of Vesselina Kasarova

Advantages: Kasarova's personal touch. Virtuosic without showing off
Disadvantages: She doesn't keep singing forever

...This CD is a compilation of 10 operatic arias for the mezzo soprano voice. The line up ranges from the Baroque opening number to the Classical Mozart to the late Romantic Bel Canto Donizetti opera numbers. All are gloriously sung by the Bulgarian mezzo Vesselina Kasarova, and beautifully accompanied by maestro Friedrich Haider and the Munich Radio Orchestra/ Chorus of the Bavarian Radio. Vesselina Kasarova is known for her multi-coloured deep and melancholy voice (a very distinctly identifiable one at that!) and her interpretative intensity. Every note that she sings is a part of the story she is telling. Her florid coloratura (virtuoso decoration of the main melodic line) is legendary, and yet they are never gratuitous. This is a dream singer for anyone who likes drama and theatrically involved singing..... and she doesn't compromize...

EpinionSmorg 14.04.2007 · Read review
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Review of Vesselina Kasarova: Famous Mezzo Arias

The Golden Age of Mezzo Soprani Continues

Advantages: Susan Graham sings nearly everything
Disadvantages: She doesn't live next door to me...

...The American mezzo-soprano opera singer Susan Graham is in high demand at all the major opera houses of the world. This CD is a good introduction to this talented singer and her wide ranging repertoire (from the hard core operas by Haendel, Gluck, Mozart, and Berlioz to the light operettas of Yvain and Messager to the contemporary songs of Ned Rorem and Jake Heggie). Due to her strong voice and imposing physique (standing 5'10'' tall), Ms Graham is particularly successful in the 'trouser roles' where the female singer plays a male part on stage (tracks 1-6 features arias sung by 2 of her best known trouser parts). Her voice is a light lyric high mezzo soprano with effortless high notes. It is radiant, clear, and rather lighter than what one would expect from a typical mezzo (similar to Anne-Sofie von Otter's and Magda Kozena...

EpinionSmorg 16.04.2007 · Read review
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Review of Susan Graham

Sarah Connolly, Superb Baroque Mezzo-Soprano

Advantages: Rich, creamy vocal; enveloping warmth; text, character alive; facile Baroque ornamentation; impeccable diction; fine Symphony.
Disadvantages: Only over an hour of music here; wanted more!

...If you?ll kindly pardon the gushing tone of this review, the blame for which you can lay wholly on the phenomenal British mezzo-soprano, Sarah Connolly (whom I hereby unofficially dub the operatic Anjelica Huston). Her riveting portrayal of the title character in Glyndebourne?s 2005 staging by David McVicar of Georg Frideric Händel?s ?Giulio Cesare? first made this writer into a very interested listener [reviewed here: http://dvd.ciao.co.uk/GiulioCesareHandelThreeDiscsReview5644748]. With this disc, she?s become a full-fledged Connolly fan. This 2004 CD comprises airs (arias) and orchestral sinfonias from four works by Händel, and any Händel/Baroque music or opera/vocal music lover will not regret its acquisition. This disc also heralds Ms Connolly?s superb turn as the aforementioned Giulio Cesare the very next year...

zerbine28 07.05.2007 · Read review
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Review of Heroes and Heroines

One to listen out for

Advantages: Fresh, charming, very easy to listen to
Disadvantages: None for me

...Faryl Smith was born in the UK in 1995. She participated in the UK's Britain's Got Talent competition in 2008. At the age of thirteen she wowed the audience with her beautifully controlled voce. She did look a little older, as she was tall for her age, but what astounded viewers was that her voice was very grown up. Faryl did not win BGT, in fact she was not even a runner up, but she has since won a lucrative record deal. Despite the interest expressed by one of the judges, namely Simon Cowell, Faryl decided to sign for a different record label to Cowells'. She choose Decca as, at the time, one of her idols, Katherine Jenkins, was with the same label. Faryl's debut album was released in early March 2009 and it has been highly successful. Faryl has a mezzo-soprano singing voice which belies her age. Although it is easy to tell that...

grafter123 02.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of Faryl - Faryl Smith

A tragedy in miniature

Advantages: Baker is fabulous, rich, full voiced singing, brisk pace, dramatically intense,
Disadvantages: None

...plotting Dido's downfall and see the attraction to Aeneas as her Achilles heel and devise a plan to destroy both Dido and her kingdom. The Decca recording was made in 1961 (remastered and re-released in 2000) and has to be regarded as one of the must-have Dido recordings. Anthony Lewis conducts the English Chamber Orchestra and famously had to convince a young Janet Baker to take the title role. The role of Dido is a difficult one to cast as it falls somewhere in between being categorically for a soprano or a mezzo soprano. At the time of this recording, Dido was perceived to be a soprano role - nowadays it is more traditionally considered a mezzo role and I would hazard a guess that that is principally down to the fantastic performance of Janet Baker. While I don't necessarily prefer either a soprano or a mezzo in the role, I do prefer...

bubblegum_princess 28.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Purcell: Dido and Aeneas

Too hot to Handel!

Advantages: Fleming is sublime, well sung throughout
Disadvantages: Live recording is slightly noticeable in places

...Despite being one of the most prolific composers of opera and very successful in his own time, Handel operas have remained largely neglected in the operatic repertoire until fairly recently with the Handel revival that began in the '60s. Because of this, if you're looking for recordings of Handel operas there are often not too many to choose from and to my knowledge there are only 3 recordings available of Alcina: one with Joan Sutherland in the title role, one with Renee Fleming, and one with Arleen Auger. I am eagerly awaiting the release this month of another recording with Joyce DiDonato in the title role - possibly an unorthodox choice as a mezzo soprano, but one of my favourite singers. Alcina tells the story of a sorceress (Alcina herself) who seduces every man who dares to set foot on her island. However, Alcina is fickle...

bubblegum_princess 30.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Handel: Alcina

Amistad

Advantages: Not bad
Disadvantages: Not special

...was asked to compose music, as he had done for all other Spielberg movies since 1974. The score, however, though it is by far not bad, lacks something to make it great. Cinque's theme is quite beautiful, the Main "Dry Your Tears, Afrika!" is a very enjoyable piece of music, based on a poem written by Bernard Dadie in 1967, "Dry your tears, Afrika! Your children come back to you. We have come home" and it is sung completely in an African language, but the rest of the material is somewhat uninteresting and Adams' theme is very bland, being too much like other "patriotic" American music with its trumpet sounds. There are a number of soloists contributing here: most importantly the mezzo Pamela Dillard, usually singing in connection with Cinque, the trumpetist Tim Morrison associated with the lawyer Adams, and Jim Walker (flute) and Jim...

berlioz 12.04.2004 · Read review
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Review of Amistad - Original Soundtrack

Revenge of the Wardrope... Alcina, Unplugged

Advantages: Fine musical performance.
Disadvantages: Stage director too sharing of his horniness

...to the true identity of her guest Ricciaro and Melisso. Love conquers all in the end... but whose love? Tune in and find out. Alcina the opera contains some of Handel's most gorgeous music especially for the title role and for Ruggiero (a castrato role now usually sung by a mezzo soprano) and Bradamante. It came back to the stage after a long century of neglect when Dame Joan Sutherland revived it in the 60's. With the current abundance of great virtuoso soprani and mezzo soprani capable of doing this music justice, the opera is now a popular Baroque work at major opera houses in Europe and America. This DVD is a live recording of a performance from Staatsoper Stuttgart in 1999. There are some cuts, but Morgana gets to keep her showpiece aria 'Tornami a vegghiar.' CAST: Alcina (A sorceress) = Catherine Naglestad (Soprano...

EpinionSmorg 15.04.2007 · Read review
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Review of Handel: Alcina (DVD)

Callas' Second Studio Norma

Advantages: Fine performances all round, especially Ludwig and Corelli
Disadvantages: Callas not in best voice

...This is often considered one of the finest recordings of Bellini's opera "Norma". That opera is one of the best 'bel canto' operas of the nineteenth century. Norma, the soprano title character, has a secret relationship with the tenor Pollione, a Roman and thus an enemy to her people. She loves Pollione but he loves another priestess, the mezzo Adalgisa. Eventually it transpires that Norma has the power to decide the fate of Pollione and Adalgisa. Pollione is sentenced to death for being found on sacred ground (hoping to elope with/abduct Adalgisa). But rather than point the finger at Adalgisa for breaking her vows Norma admits to breaking her own vows with Pollione. Pollione, seeing Norma's nobility - she had felt pity for Adalgisa having intended to reveal the young priestess' betrayal - realises how much he loved her. They both mount...

operalover2000 04.04.2008 · Read review
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Review of Bellini: Norma

The dastardly deed deveated

Advantages: Comic opera, beautiful melodies, superb ensembles
Disadvantages: Cannot compare to a live performance

...(Eva Mei - soprano) and a young page, Cherubino (Liliana Nikiteanu ? mezzo soprano) to avoid the Count?s attempts at seduction. Cherubino is supposed to dress up as a girl to trick the count. The Count, jealous of the countess?s attention towards him, sends him off to join the army. The countess and Susanna then plan to swap clothing. Countess (dressed as Susanna) arranges to meet the Count in the gardens. Figaro, who is not aware of the new plans, is appalled when he sees them in each other?s arms. The truth is revealed and every thing is ended happily. The characters are played with understanding. Figaro and Susanna are delightfully witty and energetic. Gilfry, as the count steals the show, delightfully seductive and dark. Cherubino is youthful and niave. The Countess noble, neglected, yearning yet loving. They all sing with clarity...

MAFARRIMOND 11.07.2004 (12.07.2004) · Read review
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Review of Le Nozze Di Figaro - Glyndebourne (DVD)