Album Description
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.Amazon.com
Cecilia Bartoli’s new CD features a collection of music that could not be heard in her native Rome at the start of the 18th century due to Papal censorship. Theaters, the Church felt, were places of evil and corruption and operas led… More >>
Cecilia Bartoli ~ Opera Proibita / Les Musiciens du Louvre · Minkowski
Ideas Product
#1 by Flora Ryan on May 26, 2010 - 12:57 am
After listening to this, I would not recommend it to the casual listener. A very odd and certainly different vocal selections. Still not one of my favorite singers.
Rating: 2 / 5
#2 by Saul Vargas on May 26, 2010 - 3:30 am
She has matured. Range, incomparable. Technique, style….she is one of the best of all-time. I don’t know what some reviewer’s might have listened to in WA, but, believe me, this should be a “have-to-have in my collection” CD. Bravo, Cecilia
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by Keith Lam on May 26, 2010 - 5:16 am
Ever since I heard clips online, I knew this album is going to be amazing and it is. Ms.Bartoli is not only amazing at singing runs like no tomorrow, but she really brought so much life into Baroque music on this CD. Why this repertoire would be prohibited is beyond me, it’s just gorgeous music taking to another level. Ms.Bartoli is currently touring and I just saw her live in concert with Orchestra La Scintilla of Zuerich Opera. last night. Absolutely blew me away and the audience just wouldn’t let her leave, ended up doing four encore pieces! My favourite pieces on this album is “Vanne pentita a piangere” (which Ms.Bartoli just stunned the audience with during the concert!), “Un pensiero nemico di pace”, “Sparga il senso lascivo veleno”, “Come nembo che fugge col vento”, “Lascia la spina cogli la rosa”, “Si piangete pupille dolente” and definitely “Disserraveti oh porte d’Averno”. This album has to be her best so far!
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by Ravel on May 26, 2010 - 7:12 am
This may be the best Bartoli CD in recent years!!! No recent album of her thrilled me like this new one. I have the feeling of already being catched by the CD’s arias and that didn’t happen with the Salieri, Gluck, etc, albums, despite their obvious beauty.
For the voice, this album reminds me of the sheer energy of Rossini Heroines.
So why my 4 stars? Never seen such ugly pictures of her! Were they making a pic of her nostrils, or what?
Rating: 4 / 5
#5 by Steven Guy on May 26, 2010 - 10:06 am
What more can I add?
Cecilia Bartoli just “does it” for me almost every time. She is just fantastic in my books. I love her dearly. She can give one an adrenalin rush with her bravura singing and then break one’s heart with her pathos.
This is a superb collection of Baroque arias from “almost” operas!
)
I also liked the cheeky and none-too-subtle references to La Dolce Vita on
cover and the images inside the disc. Nice to see an opera singer with a playful sense of humour!
I am listening to this disc as I write this review and all I can say is that I love this disc and it is clearly one of the best Signorina Bartoli has released, although I like all of her recordings. Listen to track 12 and you will buy this disc.
More, please!
PS: How about DECCA getting Cecilia Bartoli and Andreas Scholl together for a musical project? I’d love to see two of my favourite singers together on the one disc.
PSPS: If you like Opera Proibita, buy Andreas Scholl’s Arcadia and Arias for Senesino, too!
Rating: 5 / 5