10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a wonderful recording!, August 15, 2005
This review is from: Cavalli - Arias and Duets from Didone · Egisto · Ormindo · Giasone · Calisto (Audio CD)
This recording features arias, duets and some instrumental sinfonias and ritornello from five of Francesco Cavalli's operas: Didone (1641), Egisto (1643), Ormindo (1644), Giasone (1649) and La Calisto (1651).
Five singers are featured and all bring something to this music. In particular, I liked the voice of the countertenor, Gianluca Belfiori Doro. He has a rather attractive and strong sounding alto voice. The baritone, Roberto Abbondanza, is in excellent voice and the tenor, Mario Cecchetti, and the two women, Gloria Banditelli (mezzo-soprano) and Rosita Frisani (soprano) sing well.
The instrumental ensemble, Mediterraneo Concento, features period instruments - strings, brass and basso continuo. I hope I hear more from this ensemble soon.
Maestro Sergio Vartolo directs from the harpsichord and he brings the music to life. Bravo, signor!
If you bought this CD, please consider Sergio Vartolo's very stylish and expressive recording of "Toccatas and Correnti" by Michelangelo Rossi (NAXOS 8.557321). Cavalli and Rossi were both born in 1602.
This new Cavalli CD is an excellent sampler of Cavalli's operatic music and I am sure that those who already own some recordings of Cavalli's complete operas will find much to enjoy on this new disc.
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