Cecilia Bartoli - Gluck Italian Arias ~ Dreams & Fables

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
On this recording of eight unfamiliar arias by Gluck, Cecilia Bartoli once again demonstrates her peerless vocalism and communicative power. Using texts by Pietro Metastasio, the leading librettist of his day, from whose poetry the disc's title is taken, Gluck composed music of heartwarming and heartbreaking beauty. The arias encompass an infinite variety of style, mood, character, and expression, and Bartoli's mastery of them is complete. The sheer beauty of her voice and her consummately effortless coloratura are unique: endless cascading runs, ranging from below the staff to high D's and E-flat's, flow out flawlessly placed and articulated, like strings of perfect, shining pearls. But what makes her singing so fascinating and unforgettable is Bartoli's ability to color and change her voice to fit the music, going in an instant from lighthearted parody to tempestuous fury, half-mad desperation, and lamentatious pleading. Equally captivating is her ability to create real characters by purely vocal means. The pyrotechnics are stunning, the fiery outbursts thrilling, but it is the slow, lyrical, inward arias that are most moving and memorable. She can spin out a long melody like a golden thread, with a focused, centered sound and a concentrated intensity of expression that cast an irresistible spell over ear and heart. Most of these arias are in da capo form, but she ornaments the repeats freely and imaginatively without becoming excessive. The Berlin Academy for Ancient Music, playing on period instruments tuned to a low A, supports her with a wonderfully clear, transparent sound and great stylistic empathy. --Edith Eisler

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In the immediate aftermath of the release of her album of Vivaldi opera seria arias I met Cecilia Bartoli in Berlin when she explained the concept of her next operatic recital on disc: it was to be the unknown 'Italian' Gluck and she wondered aloud how hard she would have to fight the powers that be at Decca to avoid including 'Che faro senza Euridice' in her programme. Well maybe it wasn't such a struggle after all – Orfeo in any case is probably a mite too low for the mezzo with soprano... read more

Cecilia Bartoli - Gluck Italian Arias ~ Dreams & Fables

Tracks:

Tremo Fra' Dubbi Miei
Di Questa Centra In Seno
Misera, Dov Son!...Ah! Non Son Io Che Parlo
Ciascum Siegua il Suo Stile...Maggior Follia
Quel Chiaro Rio
Ah, Taci, Barbaro...Come Potesti, Oh Dio!
Se Mai Senti Spirarti Sul Volto
Berenice, Che Fai?

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

On this recording of eight unfamiliar arias by Gluck, Cecilia Bartoli once again demonstrates her peerless vocalism and communicative power. Using texts by Pietro Metastasio, the leading librettist of his day, from whose poetry the disc's title is taken, Gluck composed music of heartwarming and heartbreaking beauty. The arias encompass an infinite variety of style, mood, character, and expression, and Bartoli's mastery of them is complete. The sheer beauty of her voice and her consummately effortless coloratura are unique: endless cascading runs, ranging from below the staff to high D's and E-flat's, flow out flawlessly placed and articulated, like strings of perfect, shining pearls. But what makes her singing so fascinating and unforgettable is Bartoli's ability to color and change her voice to fit the music, going in an instant from lighthearted parody to tempestuous fury, half-mad desperation, and lamentatious pleading. Equally captivating is her ability to create real characters by purely vocal means. The pyrotechnics are stunning, the fiery outbursts thrilling, but it is the slow, lyrical, inward arias that are most moving and memorable. She can spin out a long melody like a golden thread, with a focused, centered sound and a concentrated intensity of expression that cast an irresistible spell over ear and heart. Most of these arias are in da capo form, but she ornaments the repeats freely and imaginatively without becoming excessive. The Berlin Academy for Ancient Music, playing on period instruments tuned to a low A, supports her with a wonderfully clear, transparent sound and great stylistic empathy. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

An informed performance of rare works that really shines.......2005-08-02

I think this is the best singing by Bartoli that I've heard since she recorded Idomeneo with Placido Domingo in the early 90's. It is historically informed and well played by the orchestra. The arias are rare gems that sparkle and are moving.

It is definitely a must have for all fans of Bartoli along, and not just the early-music crowd but all lovers of classical music.

Bravo!

Think twice before buying it.......2004-06-27

I used to give Ms Bartoli infinite credit, so I bought this Gluck album without much hesitation. Yet the dissapointment it brought was double: i) the passion of Ms Bartoli's interpretation overflows too often at the wrong place and ii) this selection of pieces proves that Gluck was not always inspired enough to hit the good string, having also produced dull, insipid musak. I think the composer has to bear most of the responsibility for this failed project. 3 stars for Ms Bartoli alone.

Can music get any better?.......2003-10-18

Cecilia Bartoli shows in this fantastic CD what a composer Gluck actually was from his early years. The music is fantastic, orchestrated well, and Bartoli delivers wonderful performances of these neglected pieces. Each one is so fantastic and full of life, and Bartoli is surely the one of the greatest artists of her or any time. Let's just hope she continues producing such fantastic work!

Cecilia.......2003-07-06

She is a light,high mezzo-soprano, so it sounds like she's a soprano. I fell in love with the second aria. I could play it over and over again, and the baroque music is very beautiful.

The art of singing, perfected . ........2003-04-01

Can you improve on perfection? Cecilia BARTOLI certainly can . . , and elevates a grateful GLUCK to new heights.
Now how can I top my raves for her VIVALDI Album? Here she
uses her vital energy to float an even more arid project.
And regales us with amazing vocal artistry. A tour-de-force
shining new light on a quasi-forgotten composer, who found
in Cecilia his most valiant knight. The orchestra under
B. Forck a class act. And the graphic presentation/booklet
an achievement in itself, it's a labour of love you'll
feel tempted to leave on your coffee table for conversation.
Make this your CD of the month, and be amazed.

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