Originally released as a deluxe, limited edition in October 2009, Cecilia Bartoli's Sacrificium is now available in a standard, one-CD, jewel-case edition. The album was a critical and sales hit last fall and will continue to be of great interest to Bartoli's fans and classical music enthusiasts. Cecilia Bartoli uncovers the extraordinary and cruel world of the `Castrati' and sings the glorious music they inspired. The album consists almost entirely of world-premiere recordings of some of the most virtuosic music ever written for the human voice. Sacrificium marks the first collaboration of Il Giardino Armonico, Giovanni Antonini, and Bartoli since their Grammy® Award-winning The Vivaldi Album ten years ago.

"The age of the castratos was one of the most dazzling and remarkable in European music history. Seldom has there ever been such a complete fusion of sensuousness and splendor, form and content, poetry and music, and, above all, such a perfection of vocal virtuosity, as was achieved in the glory days of the Baroque era. The legendary art of the castratos continues to exert its fascination even today, and despite the great human sacrifice it exacted, a new assessment of this extraordinary period is surely justified." - Cecilia Bartoli Cecilia Bartoli uncovers the extraordinary and cruel world of the `Castrati' and sings the glorious music they inspired. The all-new album consists almost entirely of world-premiere recordings of some of the most virtuosic music ever written for the human voice. The arias on the album are drawn from the works of Nicola Porpora (1686-1768), Antonio Caldara (c. 1670-1736), Francesco Araia (1709-1770), Carl Heinrich Graun (c. 1703-1759), Leonardo Leo (1694-1744), Leonardo Vinci (1696-1730), Riccardo Brosc hi (c. 1658-1756) and Geminiano Giacomello (c. 1692- 1740). After extensive research Bartoli has produced not only a new recording, but also a comprehensive study of the castrati and their time period through two lavishly produced and illustrated articles included in the deluxe package. Sacrificium marks the first collaboration of Il Giardino Armonico, Giovanni Antonini, and Bartoli since their Grammy® Award-winning The Vivaldi Album ten years ago. This deluxe package is a hardback book (12 x 14 cm) including 2 CDs of music including 11 world-premiere recordings. The extensive booklet includes two essays on the castrati: "Evviva il coltellino!" ("Long live the the little knife") & "Castrato Compendium" (a 108-page "A-Z" of the castrati). The entire project features lavish illustrations and photos throughout along with an additional 44-page libretto. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

The 17th-century Italian art song repertory traditionally reserved for novice singers is given new life via Bartoli's artistry. With impeccable diction and evocative phrasing, she captures every innuendo of these simple, but passionate, pieces. No two repetitive phrases are alike; she chisels every line into a landscape of interpretive magnificence. Scarlatti's simple "O Cessate di Piagarmi" becomes a testament of innocent pain and plaintiveness. Giordano's "Caro Mio Ben" is transformed into a tender cry for love. All embellishments are imaginative and well executed. Accompaniment by György Fischer is equally appealing, sensitive and precise. Every singer questing for the art of singing should study these. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Limited Australian pressing. An extraordinary album of dramatic arias written in Rome at a time when opera performance was forbidden by the Church, and female singers were forbidden from singing in public. Decca. 2005.

After great success with the deluxe edition, Sospiri is now available in a jewel version. In this special new collection, Cecilia sings tender, sensual arias including favorites by Handel and Mozart, bel canto jewels by Bellini and Rossini, and treasures which she has "rediscovered" through her best-selling, award-winning recording projects. Includes a new interpretation of Rossini's aria Una voce poco fa, from The Barber of Seville - the role in which Cecilia Bartoli first shot to international stardom!

Cecilia Bartoli is loved the world over for vocal fireworks and spectacular coloratura, but she is also adored for her spine-tingling pianissimo (singing very softly) and her ability to shape endless, velvety phrases. This is the first compilation of her recordings to focus on the irresistibly sensual side of Cecilia Bartoli's art. (It has been 8 years since another compilation of Cecilia Bartoli's art has been created and in that time she has recorded 5 all-new, chart-topping albums).

"Sospiri" contains favorite arias by Mozart and Handel, bel canto jewels by Bellini and Rossini and treasures by Vivaldi as well as music which Cecilia Bartoli has "rediscovered" on her recent record-breaking solo albums.

The Deluxe Edition includes a previously unreleased aria and world-premiere recording of Vinci's Cervo in bosco, one of the greatest castrati's ever, Farinelli's, calling card arias. Also included is a new interpretation of Rosina's aria Una voce poco fa, from Il Barbiere di Siviglia - the dazzling aria of young love, the role in which Cecilia Bartoli first shot to international stardom. She infuses this new interpretation with all her knowledge of the baroque and classical tradition on which Rossini's music was founded, her experience of period practice and critical reading of the manuscripts, together with a playfulness and variety of colors which she has acquired over the years. On this track recorded during the Maria sessions Cecilia Bartoli is accompanied by a fantastic period practice orchestra, Orchestra La Scintilla.

The Deluxe Edition also includes several duets, two popular ones: Mozart's Là ci darem la mano with Bryn Terfel and Mascagni's Tutto tace (Cherry duet) with Luciano Pavarotti and features a very original one with Maxim Vengerov: Mendelssohn's Ah, ritorna, an excerpt from the rarely performed concert aria Infelice!

No Description Available.
Genre: Classical Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 26-OCT-1999

BARTOLI CECILIA MARIA - EDICION LIMITADA

Rather than a collection of standard favorites, this recital contains rarely recorded songs by Bellini, Donizetti and Rossini.
Genre: Classical Music
Media Format: Compact Disk
Rating:
Release Date: 16-SEP-1997