Mozart: Se vuol ballare (from Le nozze di Figaro)

From the outset of his career, bass-baritone Ildebrando D’Arcangelo has been the pre-eminent Mozart man in his Fach. For his all-Italian Mozart album under Gianandrea Noseda, he delivers numbers famous and rare that brim with vocal distinction and interpretive panache.

D’Arcangelo’s awesome Don Giovanni (“Champagne Aria”) and uproarious Leporello (“Catalogue Aria”) establish his wide emotional range. Excerpts of his much anticipated Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, which goes public in Paris in 2011 (followed by Vienna and L.A.), and his notable Figaro highlight other facets of D’Arcangelo’s command as a Mozartian.

With its unusually prominent writing for the double bass, the concert aria, “Per questa bella mano”, is a composition out of the ordinary; it shows that in addition to being a master of character creation, D’Arcangelo is a master of pure singing.

“Ildebrando D’Arcangelo is a complete knock-out as Leporello − charming, funny, sexy. What a difference a native Italian speaker makes in the role”, says The Independent

The Swedish baritone Peter Mattei has made a formidable reputation for himself performing at the most prestigious opera houses in the world including the Metropolitan, Teatro alla Scala and Covent Garden.

In the recording studio he is, however, a more rarely seen guest. On this his first and long-awaited disc of arias, he revels in the rich opportunities offered by the baritone literature, performing a selection of his favourite arias and roles. Lovelorn young men and cynical libertines, friends faithful unto death and innocent victims of oppression.

All of these are brought to life as one of today’s finest operatic baritones displays his entire range with the eminent support of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and Lawrence Renes on the podium.

This Catalan baritone was famous for roles such as Figaro in the Barber of Seville. He made his debut at the Teatro Liceu in a performance of “Anna Bolena” to mark the centennial of the house. He remained there for 23 seasons but made guest appearances in other opera houses. He was very popular in South America and was a highly popular zarzuela singer in addition to his operatic career.

Mozart’s operas are part of our cultural heritage. Everyone knows, more or less consciously, the most famous arias, which are even available as ringtones for mobile phones! Mozart can make us laugh, dream, ponder or weep, with the brilliance and variety of Homer or Shakespeare, and with emotions constantly on a knife-edge. From The Magic Flute to Don Giovanni, from arias to overtures, here is an ideal anthology of Mozart opera.