Superb interpretation of Mozart heroines
Ingrid Haas Martinez | Mexico City | 10/26/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Andrea Rost's second solo albums shows that she is one of the best lyric sopranos of our time. Her interpretation of all the female arias of LE NOZZE DI FIGARO and of DON GIOVANNI give a special touch to this CD. First of all, Rost is a wonderful Susana and she has sung the role in all the important opera houses in the world (most recently at the MET). As you can hear in the CD, the two arias of Susana are sung elegantly, with the exact mixture of sensibility and charm that this character needs, specially in the 'Deh, vieni non tardar' (one of the best I've heard on CD). Another role that she has sung before is Zerlina in Don Giovanni and her two arias are included in this CD. Rost's voice and interpretation of the role are pure, clean and her phrasing is exquisite. Recently she sang her first Donna Anna and she sings both arias with bravura and a lot of intensity. The incredible thing about Rost here is that she changes from one character to another giving the impression that it is THE character itself and not Zerlina singing Donna Anna or Elvira. Her voice embodies Anna's inner torment perfectly in 'Or sai chi l'onore' as well as Elvira's sadness in 'Mi tradi..' and again Anna's conflicts in 'Non mi dir'.
It was quite delightful to hear her singing three arias usually sung by a mezzosoprano: the 2 arias of Cherubino and Marzellina's optional aria 'Il capro e la capretta'. She sings 'Non so piu cosa son' and 'Voi che sapete' with youthful energy and showing Cherubino's ardour with the exact touch of 'teenage ardour'. The Marzellina aria is very lovely too.
The orchestra sounds brilliant and I highly recommend this Cd, specially if you love Mozart operas and would like to enjoy a fresh and beautiful voice like Andrea Rost's singing such lovely arias!"
A Strange but Oddly Satisfying Recording
Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 03/29/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Andrea Rost is a fine Hungarian soprano who has been gracing the opera stages in Europe and America for the past 15 years. She has a lovely, well-focused, clear soprano voice that she uses with intelligence and great artistry. She also has a fine stage presence. But here she has elected to sing the roles of all the soprano parts in 'Le Nozze di Figaro' and 'Don Giovanni', a risky if gutsy undertaking and one which is not unique: many sopranos have essayed each of the roles but at different points in their careers.
Is Rost successful? Not entirely, but far more than one would expect! The timbres of the different roles call for more variation in tone than could be expected form one voice. But the joy is hearing these well known arias all together, a programming effect which lends interest to re-examining the two operas in one recording by one artist.
The orchestral support from the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra as lead by Tamas Pal is unremarkable: the word serviceable seems apt. But the overall effect of this recording is one of great interest and it does give us a generous sampling of the current technique and lovely estate of the voice of a very fine soprano in Andrea Rost! Grady Harp, March 05"
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1