Customer Reviews

Cecilia Bartoli - The Impatient Lover (Italian Songs by Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart, Haydn)

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This album includes a number of rare pieces in the Italian repertoire. Written by standard composers (Haydn, Shubert, Beethoven, and Mozart), they accompany the Italian words of Pietro Metastasio, a prominent poet in the early to mid-1700's. Metastasio's poetry was used until the mid 1840's as lyrics to classical songs. These texts are archetypes of the 'opera seria' libretto in both form and content. So some might find this album peculiar, particularly since you are most likely not used to hearing Italian words with Shubert melodies. Don't be timid! Bartoli's voice is incredible, and free from many of the terrible habits that have characterized her lately (swallowed low notes, breathy pianissimo sound, etc). She sounds rich and expressive, and as always, her interpretive techniques are top-of-the-line. The Mozart "Ridente la calma" will especially warm your heart.

This disc offers a recital of Italian songs set to music by Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert and Haydn. Beethoven and Schubert may come as a surprise to the listener here in regard to Italian repertoire, but Mozart and Haydn had already set Italian texts to music. Actually Beethoven and Schubert are each featured here with several songs, Mozart is represented by 'Ridente La Calma' and Haydn with the poignant cantata 'Árianna a Naxos'. These songs are mostly set to music on texts by Pietro Metastasio, which deal with such universal themes as love, grief, death and loss.

The four composers and their songs are with Cecilia Bartoli in attentive, careful and tender hands. Her musical integrity clearly shines through on this disc. She is in glorious voice as she took me with her through all the emotions which are distilled here, going from lightness in several of these songs to the fierceness and poignancy of Arianna in Haydn's cantata. Bringing out every shade and nuance for this listener (as these songs also allow her to display the dark depths of her voice). Andras Schiff lends her a sparkling and wonderful support on piano. Singer and musician are very much in harmony here with each other.

The booklet contains information about the composers and their songs and also the texts of the songs with translations in English, French and German . I do not have a particular favourite among the songs of Cecilia's intimate Italian recital. I definitely highly recommend this excellent disc to those listeners who love Cecilia Bartoli and all of the featured composers!

by stardustraven

This really is, as Gramophone says, a satisfying recital. In fact, it is really quite compelling, perfect for evening contemplation. Bartoli's voice sounds great, as always, and this recital demonstrates an advance in her artistry over previous efforts. Schiff plays a Bosendorfer, which sounds a bit like a fortepiano, not at all inappropriate for this repertoire of classical era composers. I enjoy its slightly woody timbre. I guess if I had any criticism, it is of Bartoli's somewhat strenuous, aspirated expression. It would be nice to hear her sing more simply and straightforwardly.

'The Impatient Lover' sung by Cecilia Bartoli is a collection of 18th and 19th century songs in Italian which were written by the predominantly German composers, Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, and Hayden. Oddly, this is very seriously a better, or at least a more enjoyable collection, to my ear, than the 'If you Love Me' collection of Italian songs written by Italians, including Scarlatti, Caldera, and Vivaldi. And, neither collection of Italian songs is as interesting as Mme. Bartoli's collection of French love songs, 'Chant D'Amore'. All are done on London, but with three different accompaniests. I think the French material is just better than the Italian.

What is there not to love about this recording.You have Mozart,Beethoven,Hayden and Bartoli.That only is enough to take and chance and buy it.You will love it as much as I do I am sure.