A new recording from Roberta Invernizzi always gives pleasure, but on the rare occasion when the Italian soprano is placed in the spotlight, as with this new collection of opera arias, it promises something very special indeed. Invernizzi is known for her style and drama in the music of the Baroque (as on recent discs of Handel and Campra). This new journey, on Glossa, showcases Vivaldi’s own fertile dramatic capacity to capture moods and a whole range of emotional highs and lows embracing anger, despair, anxiety, amorous frustration and touching intensity. Invernizzi triumphs, crowned by her electrifying performance of 'Dopo un’orrida procella' from 'Griselda'.
The programme offers a set of contrasts in known arias from Vivaldi’s operatic music and those which deserve to be better-known. Invernizzi’s interpretation is aided and abetted by La Risonanza’s fine group of instrumentalists and, of course, sympathetic direction from Fabio Bonizzoni, speaking volumes for their long musical association.
“In Da due venti, from Ercole sul Termodonte, and Fra le procelle del mar turbato (Tito Manlio), she plunges into Cecilia Bartoli waters — her technique is more fluid, even if her timbre is edgier. Her bright, intense voice comes into its own in the slow numbers.” Sunday Times, 22nd April 2012
“Invernizzi, perhaps the most exciting Italian Baroque soprano today, chooses three of the most flamboyant ['storm' arias] and dazzles with her coruscating yet perfectly controlled coloratura...La Risonanza, pounding, strumming continuo to the fore, match Invernizzi all the way in flair and theatrical intensity...In sum, another winner for La Risonanza and a triumph for Invernizzi.” Gramophone Magazine, July 2012
“One of Invernizzi's virtues is her ability to be fluently articulate and expressive, both in show-stoppers and arias that call for compassion, contemplation and reflection. Unlike some of her rivals, she always resists playing to the gallery. Her technique and sense of theatre are tempered to meet the requirements of the music, making for a musically rewarding as well as dramatically engaging recital.” BBC Music Magazine, September 2012 *****
“La Risonanza is irreproachable. Under Bonizzoni’s expert direction, its soloists, alert strings and inventive continuo team of cello, double bass, harpsichord and, by turns, a very attractive archlute and theorbo provide Invernizzi with an unfailing sensitive support.” International Record Review, October 2012
Gramophone Awards 2012
Gramophone Magazine
BBC Music Magazine