Cecilia Bartoli: Opera Proibita

This CD is outstanding. Cecilia Bartoli does not stop surprising from track to track. The technique, the expression, the range, the instrumental interpretation. The ordering of the tracks, which interrupted and mixed the oeuvres, worked to a very nice rhythm.
Bartoli's diaphragm control technique along with her varied timbres make this CD a text-book for singers. What exquisite tenderness for Händel's Lascia la spina cogli la rosa.
Les Musiciens du Louvre and Marc Minkowski appear on this Decca CD. As a bonus, the booklet includes the lyrics to these arias.i

1. Scarlatti: All'arme si accesi guerrieri (Aria dell Pace)


2. Scarlatti: Mentre io godo (Aria della Speranza)


3. Händel: Un pensiero nemico di pace


4. Caldara: Vanne pentita a piangere


5. Caldara: Sparga il senso lascivo veleno


6. Scarlatti: Caldo Sangue


7. Händel: Come nembo che fugge col vento


8. Scarlatti: Ecco negl'orti tuoi...Che dolce simpatica


9. Scarlatti: Qui resta...L'alta Roma


10. Händel: Lascia la spina cogli la rosa


11. Scarlatti: Ahi qual cordoglio...Doppio affetto


12. Caldara: Si piangete pupille dolente


13. Caldara: Ahi quanto cieca...Come foco allo splendore


14. Händel: Disserratevi oh porte d'Averno


15. Händel: Notte funesta...Ferma l'ali

Joan Sutherland: Best Recordings

It is astonishingly beautiful. Her precision, emotion, and plasticity are amazing. I can never hear enough of the virtuosity riquired by Lucia di Lammermoor.

Handel — Alcina

1. Dí, cor mio quanto t'amai

Bellini — Norma

2. Casta Diva
3. Fine al rito — Ah! Bello, a me ritorna
4. Oh, rimembranza
5. Deh! Con te
6. Mira, o Norma
7. Si, fino all'ore

Händel — Alcina

8. Oh Ruggiero... Ombre Pallide

Verdi — La Traviata

9. É strano! Ah, fors'è lui

Donizetti — Lucia di Lammermoor

10. Regnava nel silenzio quando rapita in estasi
11. Il docle suono ardon gl'incensi
12. Spargi d'amaro pianto

Händel: Messiah

Fabulous work. I was set in a state of timelessness. (I have to add that organic influences helped to this effect) This endeavor has modified my taste for music. I now enjoy vocal music, which I previously did not; and now I have become addicted to original instruments.
The first part of the Messiah I found the most powerful and suggestive. Obviously the famous Hallelujah is a caress. It is specially interesting of this version, that one can actually make sense from the words sung in the Philips' Digital Classics CD.
Nevill Marriner conducts the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.
Soprano: Sylvia McNair
Mezzo-soprano: Anne Sofie von Otter
Alto: Michael Chance
Tenor: Jerry Hadley
Bass: Robert Lloyd

ASMIF Chorus Master: Lázló Heltay

1. Messiah Hwv 56 (Complete)


2. Accompagnato: Comfort Ye, My People


3. Air: Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted


4. Chorus: And The Glory Of The Lord


5. Accompagnato: Thus Saith The Lord


6. Air: "But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming"


7. Chorus: And He Shall Purify The Sons Of Levi


8. Recitative: Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive


9. Air - Chorus: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings


10. Accompagnato: For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover


11. Air: The People That Walked In Darkness


12. Chorus: "For Unto Us A Child Is Born"


13. Messiah Hwv 56 (Complete)


14. Recitative: There Were Shepherds - Accompagnato: And Lo, The Angel Of The Lord -


15. Chorus: Glory To God In The Highest


16. Air: Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion


17. Recitative: Then Shall The Eyes Of The Blind


18. Duet: He Shall Feed His Flock


19. Messiah Hwv 56 (Complete)


20. Messiah Hwv 56 (Complete)


21. Air: He Was Despised


22. Chorus: Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs


23. Chorus: And With His Stripes We Are Healed


24. Chorus: All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray


25. Accompagnato: All They That See Him


26. Chorus: He Trusted In God


27. Accompagnato: Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart


28. Arioso: Behold And See


29. Accompagnato: He Was Cut Off


30. Aria: But Thou Didst Not Leave


31. Chorus: Lift Up Your Heads


32. Recitative: Unto Which Of The Angels


33. Chorus: Let All The Angels Of God


34. Air: "Thou Art Gone Up On High"


35. Chorus: The Lord Gave The Word


36. Air: How Beautiful Are The Feet


37. Chorus: Their Sound Is Gone Out


38. Air: Why Do The Nations


39. Chorus: Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder


40. Recitative: He That Dwelleth In Heaven


41. Air: Thou Shalt Break Them


42. Chorus: "Hallelujah"


43. Air: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth


44. Chorus: Since By Man Came Death


45. Air: The Trumpet Shall Sound


46. Air: The Trumpet Shall Sound


47. Recitative: Then Shall Be Brought To Pass


48. Duet: O Death Where Is Thy Sting?


49. Chorus: But Thanks Be To God


50. Air: If God Be For Us


51. Worthy Is The Lamb - Blessing And Honour - Amen