Beautiful Vivaldi alongside the virtuosic
Abel | Hong Kong | 11/02/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"In the early 1990's Italian mezzo Cecilia Bartoli started to revive the early baroque operatic works of Antonio Vivaldi. Since then, numerous ensembles and vocalists came to specialise in works of this composer, and his hitherto unknown or `lost' operas revived.
Magdalena Kozena's venture into this composer is by no means pioneering.
That said, this Vivaldi album does have its own credits, as it showcases the mezzo's gently lyrical qualities as much as her virtuosic skills. The more virtuosic "Armatae face" from the oratorio Juditha Triumphans was sung by a soprano in its premiere. It has never been a castrato piece. The two arias from La Verit'in Cimento are more lyrical in nature, and Kozena's singing is aptly mellifluous and melodic. `Sol da te, mio dolce amore' from Orlando Furioso as well as `Forse o caro in questi accenti' from Il Farnace are more nostalgic, and the pathos are well-brought out with affectation. The other `Nel Profondo' on the other hand showcases fierce Vivaldian virtuosic feats, while `Gelido in ogni vena' from Il Farnace, `Ander Voler grider' from L'Orlando finto pazzo and Griselda's `Ho il cor gia A lacero' echo the `Four Seasons'. Kozena is able to toss these pieces off with precision of articulation and beautiful enunciation. Musicality is never sacrificed for the sake of virtuosity.
`Tornar voglio al primo ardore' from Arsilda is perhaps the emotionally most affecting piece in the collection, and Kozena's timbre brings much subtle expressiveness required here. Ottone's piece `Misero spirto mio' is perhaps the most demanding piece technically to pull off, but Kozena skims over the dynamics and tempi variations with real ease and bravura.
All in all, a tremendously successful recital in the different facets of Vivaldi.
"
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1