Véronique Gens - Mozart Opera and Concert Arias [Import]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Composer), Ivor Bolton (Conductor), Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (Orchestra), Véronique Gens (Performer), Melvyn Tan (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Véronique Gens, Melvyn Tan
• Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
• Conductor: Ivor Bolton
• Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Audio CD (August 11, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Virgin Records (EMI)
• ASIN: B000009OR0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #344,377 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful singing, fully characterized, May 11, 2000

By 

Michael K. Halloran - See all my reviews

This review is from: Véronique Gens - Mozart Opera and Concert Arias (Audio CD)

French soprano Veronique Gens has made something of a specialty of singing 18th century opera, including the works of Mozart. But don't think that Gens is one in the line of asexual, vibrato-less, "period" sopranos. Her voice is warm, creamy, womanly, and full. Her techincal accomplishment is excellent, and while her coloratura never dazzles, it is always propelled by dramatic impetus.

In fact, it is Gens' sense of drama and attention to character, situation, and text, which sets this disc on a higher level than that of other fine Mozart aria recitals. Gens inhabits each character, so that her Vitellia is mature, weary, and resigned, while her Sesto is noble, impetuous, and highly earnest. She differentiates Cherubino from the Countess, Zerlina from Donna Elvira, while sounding vocally "right" for each. Listen to Sesto's "Deh, per queste istante" and then the following "Batti, batti," and see if you don't for a moment wonder if two different singers recorded the arias.

For those already familiar with the work of Mme. Gens, this recital is self-recommending. For those who have yet to discover her artistry, I urge you to purchase this recording and succumb to the considerable charms of one of the finest Mozart sopranos singing today.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful singing, April 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Véronique Gens - Mozart Opera and Concert Arias (Audio CD)

Veronique Gens is an unusual singer in that in addition to her beautiful voice and excellent sense of musicality, she pays particular attention to the diction and the meaning of the words. She is one of the best. Here she sings some of Mozart's extraordinary music. Although she is usually billed as a soprano, some of the pieces are normally sung by mezzo's. This does not seem to bother her at all.