Customer Reviews

Aris Christofellis - Farinelli et son temps "Quel usignuolo" / Ensemble Seicentonovecento · Flavio Colusso

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Aris Christofellis, a male soprano or 'Sopraniste', sings a host of aria and recitals written by various composers for the now long-lost Castrati of a magical and bygone era.

Aris, possessing an incredible technique which allows him to encompass several octaves in his singing, whilst excercising delicious ornamentation, takes one into an unusual state of being as one experiences beautifully-sung pieces by a man who sings androgynously - with the high range of a woman and then down into the baritone terrirories.

Probably one of the most affecting experiences in music one can have, besides hearing the equally mesmorising and transporting voice of Randall Wong, another Sopraniste with virtuosic ability.... Get it!!!!!!!!! (If you love the unconventional/extraordinary)

Justin

This CD will be best appreciated by those who admire the 'authentic performance movement' in baroque music. Christofellis's voice isn't what I call beautiful, but their is no denying that his ability is extraordinary, if not bizarre. The highlight for me is the sublime 'Lieto cosi tal volta' from Pergolesi's little-known opera Adriano in Siria and I recommend buying the CD for this aria alone. Christofellis is also a musicologist and it is interesting to hear an informed take on musical issues such as ornamentation. Anyone wondering what the castrati may have sounded like can get a pretty good idea from this recording. A unique and unusual CD.

Aris' voice is an acquired taste. In fact, most listeners will not enjoy listening to him sing. Although it may seem counter-intuitive, this does not detract much from the enjoyment of these performances. As another reviewer has already mentioned, Aris is also a musicologist, and his expertise is apparent in every detail of the three most recent recordings he has made for EMI with Colusso. Their musicianship is impeccable, as are their decisions regarding taste, ornamentation, tempi, and orchestration. This is a demonstrative and instructive recording for anyone curious about how to sing stylishly and accurately in the bel canto style. Many of Aris' decisions regarding performance practice and ornamentation are easily and directly verified in original sources, and his ambitious accuracy must be applauded, as these are very well executed performances.

Aris Christofellis, a falsetto sopranist, has done much to fill a gap in recordings, that of the soprano castrati who dominated Baroque opera, oratorios, cantate, etc. 80% of all operas were written before 1800, and 70% of the roles were alto or soprano castrati. Whereas up to 5000 boys per year were made castrati during their heyday, we now have only about a half dozen natural male sopranos such as Radu Marian, Randall Wong, Michael Maniaci, Jorge Cano, David Korn, and V. Kagen-Paley. Too often, beautiful vocal music either has been ignored or assigned to women with distinctly female timbre and too often heavy warbling and sloppy technique, an anathma to castrato vocals.

Some "music experts" have criticized Aris' sound as unpleasing. A grown man with changed voice, using only partial voice, is bound to have to some degree a more constricted, throaty sound plus some difficulty with enunciation. Alto countertenor Andreas Scholl amazes all listeners by his ability to overcome such difficulties; try doing this with soprano. Also, Aris, singing with partial voice and not having the larger than normal chest of a castrato or the benefit of their training, must take more breaths, thereby interrupting some vocal lines that castrati would have sung more smoothly.

Aris stated that his 1990s recordings overcame to some degree the vocal difficulties of his earlier recordings. It's too bad we don't have Aris or others like him today to fill the gap. If high countertenors like Philipp Jaroussky or some natural sopranos have the power and agility to conquer Baroque castrato vocals, take on more of these roles, make CDs, make music DVDs. If you can not find or afford this rare recording, try interlibrary loan or your music-loving friends. You should hear it.