The MG Album Club #39: Cecilia Bartoli- The Vivaldi Album
- Thread starter Nickyboy
- Start date
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
Wow, quick selection...and a nice one!
Remember when I saw Cecilia Bartoli at Lincoln Center. Just her and a pianist. Tremendous voice. Looking forward to this one.
Nickyboy
Staff member
Oh, I would love to hear her live!
Old Uncle Toe
Well-Known Member
My ear isn’t trained for Opera. I don’t know what I’m listening to. And the fact that it’s in Eye-talian doesn’t help. So the Acrobatic numbers like Dell'aura al sussurrar didn’t do much for me.
Di due rai languir costante was a bit better. A little less flying up and down the scales and a little more melody. That was easier to listen to.
But then, Ms. Bartoli aside, the orchestration in the second half of Qual favellar? ... Anderò, volerò, griderò had a little fun to it. But that’s more Vivaldi and the orchestra than Ms. Bartoli. And again, I can hear her passion in her performance. But since I’m not used to operatic style of vocals, it’s a bit much to swallow.
Because Zeffiretti che sussurate had a slower tempo and more evenly tempered, plaintive vocals, this is where I began to actually enjoy listening to the album. For the same reason, I enjoyed much of Gelido in ogni vena and particularly enjoyed Dite oime.
And that’s how it went for me. Consistently, I enjoyed the slower arias while the faster more acrobat ones left me in the dust.
Cecilia Bartoli has a beautiful voice. I can’t imagine the training she must have done (and continues to practice) to get there. The tone of it is remarkable too, a little deeper than many women vocalists (mezzo-soprano, aha!), which appeals to my ear. She’s a wonderful performer. I would like to hear her sing some music more in my comfort zone. (I always wonder what opera performers think of that statement. I'm sure they hear it a lot.)
Side thought – whenever I hear an amazing vocalist like this I hope and pray that she sang lullabies to her children every night for bedtime. To own memories like that would be a treasure.
Di due rai languir costante was a bit better. A little less flying up and down the scales and a little more melody. That was easier to listen to.
But then, Ms. Bartoli aside, the orchestration in the second half of Qual favellar? ... Anderò, volerò, griderò had a little fun to it. But that’s more Vivaldi and the orchestra than Ms. Bartoli. And again, I can hear her passion in her performance. But since I’m not used to operatic style of vocals, it’s a bit much to swallow.
Because Zeffiretti che sussurate had a slower tempo and more evenly tempered, plaintive vocals, this is where I began to actually enjoy listening to the album. For the same reason, I enjoyed much of Gelido in ogni vena and particularly enjoyed Dite oime.
And that’s how it went for me. Consistently, I enjoyed the slower arias while the faster more acrobat ones left me in the dust.
Cecilia Bartoli has a beautiful voice. I can’t imagine the training she must have done (and continues to practice) to get there. The tone of it is remarkable too, a little deeper than many women vocalists (mezzo-soprano, aha!), which appeals to my ear. She’s a wonderful performer. I would like to hear her sing some music more in my comfort zone. (I always wonder what opera performers think of that statement. I'm sure they hear it a lot.)
Side thought – whenever I hear an amazing vocalist like this I hope and pray that she sang lullabies to her children every night for bedtime. To own memories like that would be a treasure.
Zeeba Neighba
Staff member
Wonderful listen - Bartoli's voice is of course wonderful, but loved the material. I certainly don't think of Vivaldi's operatic material much at all, so it's good to be reminded of it (20 scores survive though he wrote many more). Wonderful arrangements.
Nice pick
Nice pick
Old Uncle Toe
Well-Known Member
I listened to this in the office, then again on the way home from work and back to the office this morning. Wonderful.I am so glad you gave it all a listen. Yes, I am with you that some of it is just....too much. But she is phenomenal. I am glad you liked some of it.
If you want to hear her voice without all the theatrics, I would recommend the album that made me fall in love with her:
Ojai Sam
Staff member
This album proved to be a big surprise on many levels. First, I wasn't aware that Vivaldi even wrote opera. And Il Giardino Armonico has to be the most exuberant period music ensemble I've ever heard, making the Academy of Ancient Music sound positively somnolent by comparison. 
But the major shock is Cecilia Bartoli herself. I don't listen to a lot of opera and the coloratura soprano style was new to me. It dates back to "Farinelli", the 18th century Italian castrato.
He was said to have soprano vocal range with "the highest note customary at the time". No doubt.
Talk about sacrificing for one's art. Be that as it may, this woman can sure sing! The theatricality may put some folks off. Even Mrs. Ojai, the doyenne of Mozart herself, commented that this is an "eclectic" selection by Mr. Nick. But I really love it.
For further listening, I highly recommend Bartoli's bel canto tribute to the stormy Maria Malibran.
