Pyrotechnics: Vivaldi Opera Arias [Enhanced]

Vivica Genaux (Artist), Fabio Biondi (Conductor), Europa Galante (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Europa Galante
• Conductor: Fabio Biondi
• Audio CD (December 8, 2009)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Virgin Classics
• ASIN: B002M3GQ5G
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,063 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Da Capos Are The Charm, December 8, 2009

By 

Dennis Figueroa (Orange County, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pyrotechnics: Vivaldi Opera Arias (Audio CD)

Known for his frugality as an opera impresario, Vivaldi was regarded by scouting and promoting new talent. This assured him a steady stream of singers eager for their big break in opera, and a safe way to keep production costs down. La Cuzzoni was perhaps the only famous singer Vivaldi ever employed. His music was never interpreted by contemporaries of the stature of Farinelli or any of the other super star castrati of his time.

In counterpointe to this record, now the best singers of our generation sing his scores: Bartoli, Piau, Prina, Invernizzi, and now Genaux.

The relevance of this album lies not just on the selection of opera arias, they have been tried countless times before, but on the creatively unique approach to the da capos. Their ornamentation is novel, exciting, truly refreshing, and a testament to the extraordinary musicianship of Genaux and Biondi.

Genaux cannot escape her legendary and unrivaled performance of Qual Guerriero In Campo Armato, and once more lives up to meet that expectation. In fact, the arias di furore are stylistically brisk, and fluid in interpretation as Qual Guerriero.

As advertised, this album delivers amazing vocal fireworks capable to be moving and dazzling.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing. Jaw-Dropping!, December 8, 2009

By 

Classics Lover - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pyrotechnics: Vivaldi Opera Arias (Audio CD)

Vivica Genaux might be the most exciting singer I've heard in a while. My jaw literally dropped track after track when gave this records its first spin. If anyone knows anything about the Vivaldi arias, you know that they are DAMN difficult. Vivica rips through these runs and embellishments with such incredibly ease. It's insane. Bananas. Her vocals have such incredibly power, range and flexibility. There are plenty to pyrotechnics in this release and I can't get enough of them. Show-stopping!!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vivica out did herself, with the aid of the capable Biondi., February 23, 2010

By 

Abel "AMY" (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pyrotechnics: Vivaldi Opera Arias (Audio CD)

This is my second solo album of mezzo-soprano (or contralto) Vivica Genaux.

Some years back, she recorded a solo album on "arias for Farinelli", and though quite good, wasn't at all dazzling as the original sound track recording for the film under the same name, with Christophe Roussett at the baton.

Here she records a brand new all-Vivaldi programme, and frankly hers is one of the best Vivaldi stuff I've heard for quite a long while.

Some reviewer say that not all the stuff are NEW. I don't understand what this means. Vivaldi's stuff certainly belongs not to this century. Cecilia Bartoli has recorded a few tracks on this one early in her 1991 Vivaldi Album. So you would see that Genaux is facing some tough comparisons in this.

Well, I would report that Genaux has fully passed all the vocal tests posed in these repertoire, and manages even to outshine some of her illustrious 'predecessors' in such recordings, viz. Bartoli and Jaroussky.

The reason - she's got the right timbre.

While Genaux does not own a high register to the same stretch orextent as Bartoli (or even Jaroussky), she's got one of the fullest middle and low registers heard in female vocalists. Katherine Ferrier comes to mind when listening to her singing, but we have not had much luxury to hear Ferrier in stereo recordings, and certainly far less in Vivaldi's works.

Genaux's lower registers give her ample room to maneouvre these works' coloratura runs and different nuances. You gain the impression that 'this is what the castrato voice would sound like' as you listen to Genaux's singing.

Then, of course, Fabio Biondi does a wonderful job with the orchestra to give this album the final touches of utter finesse.

Highly recommended recording.