Customer Reviews

Viva Vivaldi! Arias & Concertos / Cecilia Bartoli · Il Giardino Armonico

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Watching this DVD was a truly wonderful experience, a real feast both for the eyes and ears. The concert which was recorded in a very elegant hall in Paris last September was filled to overflowing with a very enthusiastic and appreciative audience. The generous program consisted of 14 selections, all by Vivaldi, - 12 arias and 2 concertos - and it lasted just over 100 minutes. I suspect that many of the arias sung will be new to most viewers. In fact, most of the music is relatively unknown and had to be specially transcribed for the occasion from Vivaldi's original manuscripts. And what glorious and all encompasssing music it is. The tone of the arias cover the entire range of human emotions - from happiness and joy, to reflection, to terror and absolute grief and despair. They are sung in Cecilia's truly inimitable style. Of course, the closeups afforded by the DVD far surpass the pleasures of only listening to similar material on CDs. Cecilia sings with such conviction and obvious sincerity and pleasure that it is practically impossible not to get carried away with the music. The accompanying ensemble -Il Giardino Armonico - play with their usual conviction. The enjoyment of the program is enhanced as always by the exemplary video direction of Brian Large and the beautifully recorded sound -- the closeups of Cecilia are truly engrossing. Technically the DVD is among the best that Arthaus Musik has released to date. The picture is reasonably sharp throughout (unlike some of the company's earlier releases) and the colours very pleasing to the eye. This is one of the first recital DVDs from Arthaus to feature a DTS soundtrack, as well as PCM and 5.1 dolby digital(DD). As one might expect, the DTS sound is definitely superior to the 5.1 DD, and even the excellent PCM audio. The picture format is 16x9 and the subtitles which are large and clearly legible are available in five languages including English. A multilingual information booklet about the music and artists is included. I am sure that this is one purchase which will remain a favourite of mine for a long time.

I have never been a lover of the music of Vivaldi (anyway not the pieces that have been beaten into a pulp by every pseudo-classical radio station around the globe). My eyes, and ears, have been opened by this amazing recital. Many music lovers are extremely critical of Cecilia Bartoli. Her mannerisms, technique, breathing etc are targets for many vitriolic tongues these days. What rubbish! Everyone does not like sterile academic performances. I think this lady, as well as every member of the orchestra in this recording, is absolutely brilliant. They make every note live! I don't think that I will in my lifetime ever hear a voice like this, interpreting music like this again! These artists make Vivaldi live again. Truly - Viva Vivaldi and Bravo Cecilia and Il Giardino Armonico. Do yourself a favour and get your hands on this DVD.

This concert is amazing, those vivaldi's vocal pieces have never been performed on the stage like this. Bartoli is too good to comment, undoubtedly the best messo-soprano. The sound of this DVD is superb, with the digital surrounding sound, you can feel the audience applauding everywhere. By the way, the orchestra did an incredibly good job, the dynamic range, the collaboration with each other, etc. all is perfect, just as hot as the vocal performance. Highly recommended.

Cecilia Bartoli, What can I say about her? She is a powerful blend of furor, of tenderness, of magnificent voice. And the Giardino ensemble, wonderful, pure italian flavor.
The surround sound is very nice, both the Dolby 5.1 and the DTS 5.1. My score: a 10. And for the spanish speaking people; the DVD comes with sp subtitles.
If you like woman voice, if you like opera, if you like lute and flautino concertos, in a word, if you like music and Vivaldi, then this DVD is a must, you have to get it!

"Il Giardino Armonico" are one of the most interesting groups performing late baroque music, and they are wonderful here, their contribution is essential. But the real stars on this DVD are Vivaldi and Bartoli. I love Vivaldi`s music and know it well, but was surprised at the enormous excitement it can carry in Cecilia`s interpretation. Be warned - not only excitement, but a wide range of feeling, including the most tragic.
The singing simply seems to be out of this world.
If this review seems to use too much superlatives - it does rightly so!
This may be the most exciting DVD you`ll ever watch!!

Cecilia Bartoli has given the universe one of the most spectacular performances of the century and we are indeed fortunate to have a recording of it to enjoy time and time again. She is in top vocal form and her artistry and dramatic powers shine with every note. Every mood is expertly communicated, even if more strongly than sometimes expected...
Vivaldi' Gelido in ogni vena from his opera Farnace will simply leave you breathless............. and most probably in tears.

Unfortunately I do not have enough musical knowledge to praise this artist. I wish I had for then honey would be dripping off her! This is the best I've listened to since Amelita Galli-Curci. Cicilia Bartoli will be well remembered into the 21st century as a Diva standing out amongst her peers - head and shoulders. Viva Vivaldi! is a wonderful DVD full of emotion, passion and outsanding talent. I've had hours of pure pleasure listening how Cicialia makes "Vivaldi at his best"!

Being almost unfamiliar with Bartoli's voice, I am now in awe of her range and powerful voice. This recital is a magnificent showcase of her talent, singing vitality, and professionalism as an artist. Her repertoire is superb, and especially hand picked to cover dramatic, tragic, and comedic moods. Contrary to Callas's acting, Bartoli's allows herself be possessed by the different characters she sings. At times she looks like coming in and out of a trance. In her own unique style, she leaves no doubt to be living her singing. Her virtuosity in interpreting the fast-paced arias is astonishing. She demonstrates total control and mastery of her voice as a musical instrument, and plays her own voice as a musician would a violin, a horn, or a flute. Bartoli's voice not only ornaments the music, but also orchestrates it. Bartoli really presents herself as an artist at the top her craft. Her command of the material is very impressive as it is flawlessly executed from the heart without reading any scores. Her interpretation of "Armatae face et Anguibus", "Agitata da due Venti", and "Gelosia" are phenomenal, super-human, and one of a kind in a lifetime. Her ornamentation of the da capo aria "Siam Nave" is totally unexpected as masterly beautiful. The DVD has great sound, picture, and subtitles including the scores. Overall, this is DVD not to be missed by anyone who enjoys baroque. Bartoli is at her best. No one does Vivaldi like her. And for us who like Vivaldi, we hope there is a sequel.

The DVD has it all. A beautiful hall filled with a highly enthusiastic audience you would wish you were a part of and be in the front row and this wonderful DVD puts you there. A Dazzling performance of the adorable soprano with many other wonderful talents behind her. The lovely Celilia Bartoli sings with brilliance and power. She sings in track 4 with a feminine thunder in her voice and fire in her eyes. This lady has a voice that few can match....and love the dress too. The guy with the flute....HE ROCKS!!!! I consider this guy as the Jimmy Hendrix of the flute. When you view track 7, you will want to play it over again. You will not be bored watching him and his parts in this DVD invite repeated replaying. A woman plays her heart out in an oboe solo in track 3 where Cecilia follows with a slow song where she sings with this adorable sad face like she would cry if you dont like her DVD, how could you resist that face and those eyes?. The orchestra is fantastic. I highly recommend this to new fans of Cecilia Bartoli. To view her is so much better than hearing the CDs and you have the images this wonderful lady and the amazing orchestra in your head, so you will want all her CDs too. Just one viewing of this DVD will take away all doubt that she is the most amazing soprano in the world. You will sigh at her incomparable beauty and be amazed by the other wonderful talents this DVD has to offer.

The orchestra itself is dynamic and so quite dramatic so that it's not quite the same thing as his Concerti or his Four Seasons. As to the part the lute played, there doesn't seem to be anything particularly intriguing: some may find the accordions more amusing, and still more may find the period oboe (which was engaged in some sort of a duet with Bartoli) more impressing. But of course, at the end of the day that is very much a matter of taste.

However, if you are interested in bel canto, or if you find Joan Sutherland and Kathleen Battle enchanting, or you would like to hear Vivaldi's operatic arias, you probably also will be interested in this DVD. Put it simply, to some audience every note here is a joy, and there are quite a number of passages that few singers nowadays could do that well.