Cecilia Bartoli - Mozart Portraits

Cecilia Bartoli (Artist, Performer), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Composer), György Fischer (Conductor), Vienna Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Cecilia Bartoli
• Orchestra: Vienna Chamber Orchestra
• Conductor: György Fischer
• Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Audio CD (September 13, 1994)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B00000423X
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,780 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #6 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Bartoli, Cecilia
  • #6 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Featured Performers, A-Z > A to B > Bartoli, Cecilia > All Works Featuring Bartoli
  • #93 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Vocal Non-Opera > Motets

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mozart would have been proud, February 5, 2001

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P. Rah "prahcello" (Sion, Switzerland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cecilia Bartoli - Mozart Portraits (Audio CD)

It was Maria Callas who complained that Mozrt is too carefully sung by singers - as if they're on their tiptoes. Well, on this disc is a singer who doesn't sing as if she's on her tiptoes; she breaks all the steroetypes associated with Mozart's music (you know, the period style-followers and those who argue that Mozart should be sung lightly)and gives us a completely emotional portrayal of the composer's heroines. Of the many pieces represented, I found the two beautiful Giovanni arias most satisfying, although all are wonderfully sung. Batti, batti is sung with a delicateness that makes you feel like you're eating the sweetest chocolate and enjoying every moment of it. In quali...Mi tradi is sung with a grittiness that really portrays the true emotions of Donna Elvira, who is a broken woman - the feisty singing og the recitativo almost sounds like the vengeful Medea (but thankfully, it isn't quite that extreme). Every note Bartoli sings portrays some kind of emotion - she is a singer who really has a joie de vivre in her singing. Every note is a joy to hear because she is transmitting her own joy for singing. I have rarely heard such a natural commuinicator in singing, which I regard as the highest form of art. In Exsultate, jubilate Bartoli sings like the words - exalted and jubilant. The Alleluia is a sheer joy to hear. Everything on this disc is simply great. I have always said that music is about communication of emotions and this is precisely it. I am not just writing all sorts of superlatives because I'm a huge fan (I am a huge fan though), but because she fulfils the meaning of music through her singing and serves the composer as faithfully as she can. She is a singer that makes you feel great about living. There can't be many performers who can do that. Brava.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stars fell on Italy..., August 14, 2002

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R. Tiedemann "Sunnye" (Bellevue, NE USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cecilia Bartoli - Mozart Portraits (Audio CD)

...the day Cecilia Bartolli was born. Talk about blessed -- all this and such a versatile voice, too. Mozart would have been delighted.

However, I don't think she's perfect. Yet. This recording is, however. The orchestra has just the right timbre to complement the richness of her voice. And it is a rich voice. In fact, my main complaint is that I think she has outgrown Mozart's Susanna. Her voice is perfect for the Countess, and the rendition here of E Susanna non vien! is utterly charming and believable, with just the right touch of pathos.

The other aria that bothered me was the Batti, batti, o bel Masetto. She just sings it beautifully, of course, but it deserves more con fuoco at the beginning (she is, after all, begging to be beaten!) and more espansivo at the end, possibly with a touch of arrogance. Callas sang it that way once.

I prefer Kathleen Battle's Alleluia because she's more precise. Bartolli sings it "scorrevole." It's easy for her, as easy as a mother will sing a lullabye to a child. To me, this prayer needs vocal fireworks -- like an explosion of faith and gratitude. Bertolli can do it, she just chooses not to. That's why I can't fault her for it. After all, she made the album, it's her choice.

In all I really love this album and I love her voice. How wonderful it must be to have the ability to open your mouth and have such musical richness issue forth. The pleasure alone has to be worth all the work and effort it takes to make it that way.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars bravo bartoli!, October 21, 2001

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cam (grahamstown, rsa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cecilia Bartoli - Mozart Portraits (Audio CD)

this got me hooked on Cecilia Bartoli. I heard the Mozart Exultate Jubilate over the radio, every hair on my body upright & quivering with delight. She sings it like you dream to hear someone sing it. Heavenly! And then you disover the rest of the cd is like unpacking a treasure chest - one gem following the other. Don't just sit there, buy it :) For once in your life, you will NOT be sorry :)