Cecilia Bartoli, the renowned mezzo-soprano, invites you into a world of operatic splendor with her 2010 album "Sospiri." This exquisite collection, released under the Decca Music Group Ltd. label, spans a duration of 1 hour and 48 minutes, featuring a captivating blend of opera and classical genres. The album is a testament to Bartoli's versatility and mastery, showcasing her ability to breathe life into some of the most beloved arias and pieces from the Baroque and Classical eras.
"Sospiri" is a compilation of 21 tracks, each meticulously selected to highlight Bartoli's vocal prowess and artistic depth. From the hauntingly beautiful "Ombra mai fu" from Handel's "Serse" to the iconic "Casta Diva" from Bellini's "Norma," the album is a journey through the rich tapestry of operatic history. Bartoli's rendition of Mozart's arias, such as "Voi che sapete" from "Le nozze di Figaro" and "Là ci darem la mano" from "Don Giovanni," demonstrates her exceptional skill in interpreting the composer's intricate compositions.
The album also features lesser-known but equally enchanting pieces, like "Cervo in bosco" from "Il Medo" and "Cari giorni" from "Ines di Castro," providing a fresh perspective on Bartoli's repertoire. Her performance of sacred works, including the "Gloria" from Bach's "Mass in B minor" and the "Laudate Dominum" from Mozart's "Vesperae solennes de confessore," adds a spiritual dimension to the collection.
"Sospiri" is not just an album; it is a celebration of Cecilia Bartoli's artistry and her enduring contribution to the world of classical music. Whether you are a seasoned opera enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, this album offers a rich and rewarding listening experience. The orchestral accompaniment, as noted by early reviewers, is fabulous, enhancing the overall quality and enjoyment of the album.
Serse, HWV 40 / Act 1: "Ombra mai fu"George Frideric Handel, Cecilia Bartoli, Il Giardino Armonico, Giovanni Antonini
Merope: Sposa, non mi conosciGeminiano Giacomelli, Cecilia Bartoli, Il Giardino Armonico, Giovanni Antonini
Il trionfo del tempo e del disinganno, HWV 46a: "Lascia la spina cogli la rosa"George Frideric Handel, Cecilia Bartoli, Les Musiciens du Louvre, Marc Minkowski
Il Farnace / Act 2 Scene 5: Gelido in ogni venaAntonio Vivaldi, Cecilia Bartoli, Il Giardino Armonico, Giovanni Antonini
La Morte d'Abel: Quel buon pastor son ioAntonio Caldara, Cecilia Bartoli, Il Giardino Armonico, Giovanni Antonini
Il Medo / Act 1: Cervo in boscoLeonardo Vinci, Cecilia Bartoli, Il Giardino Armonico, Giovanni Antonini
Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492, Act II: No. 12, Voi che sapeteWolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Cecilia Bartoli, Wiener Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado
Don Giovanni, K.527 / Act 1: "Là ci darem la mano"Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Cecilia Bartoli, Bryn Terfel, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Myung-Whun Chung
La Sonnambula / Act 2: Ah! non credea mirarti si presto estinto, o fioreVincenzo Bellini, Cecilia Bartoli, Juan Diego Flórez, Orchestra La Scintilla, Alessandro De Marchi
Ah, ritornaFelix Mendelssohn, Cecilia Bartoli, Orchestra La Scintilla, Ádám Fischer
Ines di Castro: "Cari giorni" (Romanza der Ines)Giuseppe Persiani, Cecilia Bartoli, Orchestra La Scintilla, Ádám Fischer
Il barbiere di Siviglia / Act 1: "Una voce poco fa"Gioachino Rossini, Cecilia Bartoli, Orchestra La Scintilla, Ádám Fischer
Norma / Act 1: "Casta Diva"Vincenzo Bellini, Cecilia Bartoli, International Chamber Soloists, Orchestra La Scintilla, Ádám Fischer
L'amico Fritz / Act 2: Tutto tacePietro Mascagni, Cecilia Bartoli, Luciano Pavarotti, London Voices, Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi, Riccardo Chailly
Mass in B minor, BWV 232 / Gloria: Qui sedes ad dexteram PatrisJohann Sebastian Bach, Cecilia Bartoli, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Myung-Whun Chung, Mary Cotton Savini
Vesperae solennes de confessore in C, K.339: Laudate Dominum omnes gentesWolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Cecilia Bartoli, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Myung-Whun Chung, Coro dell'Accademia Nazionale Di Santa Cecilia, Roberto Gabbiani
Fac ut portem Christi mortemGioachino Rossini, Cecilia Bartoli, Wiener Philharmoniker, Myung-Whun Chung
Ave Maria: arr. from Bach's Prelude No.1 BWV 846: Ave MariaCharles Gounod, Cecilia Bartoli, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Myung-Whun Chung, Cinzia Maurizio
Requiem: Pie JesuMaurice Duruflé, Cecilia Bartoli, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Myung-Whun Chung, Daniele Rossi, Luigi Piovano
Requiem, Op. 48: Pie JesuGabriel Fauré, Cecilia Bartoli, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Myung-Whun Chung, Coro dell'Accademia Nazionale Di Santa Cecilia, Roberto Gabbiani, Daniele Rossi