Cecilia Bartoli's "Salieri" CD? What do you think?

[BlackVelvetElvis]

This could inspire some passion among opera and classical music fans.
What do you think of the new CD and/or her voice?
I've not heard the new CD.
I'm divided on her though. She can sing some beautiful stuff, other times, she really has an unpleasant hitch in her voice that makes me cringe.
Other than that, I appreciate how she is being the scholar and bringing some music to light that hasn't been heard for some 200 years.

[fortyfeetunder]

1. A collector item

Salieri has been given a bad rap, thanks to the Academy Award winning movie Amadeus. But he was an accomplished composer regardless of the rumored tales.
I'm looking forward to hearing the CD...any link to a sample from the album?

[BlackVelvetElvis]

3. Links

http://www.npr.org/programs/pt/features/2003/nov/bartoli.html
http://www.deccaclassics.com/artists/bartoli/

Here's a couple for you to start with. The Performance Today interview was pretty good. I quite like Salieri myself. Cecilia says that the Amadeus Salieri was pure fiction.
She seems quite the scholar.

[TreasonousBastard]

8. What fresh hell is this?

:wtf: is a .SMIL file that wouldn't open?

Did hear some cuts from her website, and they were beautiful.

But what's NPR doing with this .smil stuff?

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Just read about in the BBC Music Magazine today!

I'd like to get it. I've long loved her voice, and would also love to hear some Salieri in a way that wasn't with that awful baggage from the movie.

Sounds like it's quite exciting, to read the article.

[BlackVelvetElvis]

4. She does a pure interpretation of his music

That alone is probably worth it. No baggage to add from other interpretations.

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. Well, yeah - of course it's pure!

She's setting the standard! And all the goodness to her.

Went to see her in 1996 in a performance of Cossi fan Tutti at the Met opera - I hadn't planned on it, but I awoke on a Saturday morning, thought to myself, "Wonder what's playing at the met this week?" (sicne standing tix go on sale on Saturday mornings for the following week), and lo and behold, I see Cecilia as the matinee that afternoon! I had all her albums at that point, and was a huge fan, and had never seen her. So totally excitedly, I rushed down to the met to get my ticket and went to the show, and lo and behold - there was a nasty virus crusiing around NYC at the time - and Cecilia, and two other leads and one secondary character were all out sick. I was totally bummed, but yet, even with four stand-by performers, it was an EXCELLENT performance! I'm still sad I missed Cecilia, but I'll never be sad about that particular performance. The understudies all did amazingly well.

[BlackVelvetElvis]

6. What a disappointment!

My heart sank reading your post!
Glad that performance was good for you. I sure hope you (and I) get to see her some day when she's on top of it and on fire!

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. Hopefully some day I will get to hear her live

Alas, she just isn't as popular here in the states as she is in Europe, and she doesn't like flying, so she doesn't come over here too often.

[TreasonousBastard]

7. Gawd, I love Bartoli...

even though her instrument isn't perfect, kinda light and she has to stretch at times, and she's really a mezzo after all. But, you could the same about Callas, and just hitting the notes right isn't what it's all about.

She sings with her eyes, so you really want to see her, not just hear her, and you feel the love she has for the music and how she lives the role like all great actors. Funny, too. One of the great comedic stars-- she owns Rosina.

And all that without being a diva. In interviews, she seems like a really nice kid. Ever full of wonder and excitement about the music. She's done lot of recitals of unknown music, and I have a couple on tape somewhere. Of course, she's not the only one, and Dawn Upshaw and a few others been doing that for years. Upshaw's not as much fun to watch, though. Technically perfect, but more like engineering than art.

The opera snobs around here snort about whether Bartoli can really handle Verdi or Wagner, but I'd go see her. And probably have a damn good time.

You GO girl!

[Cheswick2.0]

9. we have opera snobs here? Cool!

I am not a huge fan of hers, mostly because I prefer Verdi/Wagner voices and mezzos at that. As far as sopranos go I prefer Fleming. However I have to admit that Bartoli sings Rosinni very well. I wouldn't turn my nose up at a ticket to see her.

[Rabrrrrrr]

10. OMG, I couldn't imagine Bartoli singing Wagner!

That would be horrible.

[TreasonousBastard]

12. Actually...

ANYONE singing Wagner is pretty horrible.

Coupla nice things here and there in Lohengrin, Die Meistersinger, and a few others, but he really should have hired a librettist. German is bad enough, but his lyrics make it even more leaden. Damn difficult to sing.

Love the music, though, without the voices. Can't figure out how such an ugly soul could create such beautiful melodies. He had a couple of interesting symphonies, too.

But, then there's those Valkyries.

Valkyries Rock!

[Rabrrrrrr]

13. Pfagh, Wagner is the opera god!

I love the music - both the instruments, and the voices!

Hell, I've *stood* through the Ring Cycle - twice! Plus stood through a handful of other Wagner operas.