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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Sacrificium: The Art of the Castrati
A beautiful scenic film by Olivier Simonnet. Filmed in high-definition widescreen. Cecilia Bartoli sings virtuoso arias from her Sacrificium album, on location in and around the spectacular baroque palace of Caserta in Southern Italy. This unique film shows Cecilia Bartoli in full costume singing a selection of showpiece arias written for the castrato stars of the Neapolitan school. Ravishing locations including the Court Theatre, the stunning Vestibule and the Palace Gardens. Arias include Handel's 'Ombra mai fu' and Broschi's 'Son qual nave' - previously only available in the deluxe version of the album. The film also showcases the leading Italian period ensemble Il Giardino Armonico under their director Giovanni Antonini. Special bonus features include an illustrated interview in which Cecilia Bartoli talks about the Sacrificium project, and a visual guide to the Palace, town and region of Caserta. “Bartoli's vocalism is characteristic in its virtuosity - she pulls off feat after feat in delivering hundreds of notes at rapid-fire speed, with outstanding breath control in the long lines of the slow arias...But there's commitment and understanding of both texts and notes in every bar.” BBC Music Magazine, June 2010 **** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Cecilia Bartoli - Sacrificium (Jewel Case Version)
Italy — 4,000 boys sacrificed each year in the name of music. With her new album “Sacrificium”, and a major international concert tour, Cecilia Bartoli uncovers the extraordinary world of the “castrati”, and sings the glorious music they inspired. The “Sacrificium” project will tell the story of the castrati in all its complexity; its beauty, glamour, controversy and cruelty. The album focuses on the Neapolitan school, which produced superstar castrati including Farinelli and Caffarelli. “The age of the castrati” inspired some of the most virtuosic repertoire ever written for the human voice; elaborate coloratura showpieces and beautiful slow arias, written for the extraordinary vocal abilities of the leading castrati. Following the international success of “Opera Proibita”, Cecilia Bartoli uncovers more lost jewels of Baroque music, with an album almost entirely composed of world premiere recordings. For the first time since their record-breaking “Vivaldi Album”, Cecilia Bartoli is reunited with leading Italian period instrument ensemble Il Giardino Armonico and their director Giovanni Antonini. “a classic Bartoli offering – an almost painfully slickly produced product that nevertheless sees off critical cynicism with its dramatic, technical and vocal prowess...[The arias'] virtuosity and range of emotion are as remarkable as Bartoli’s excitingly, flawlessly passionate delivery of them.” Charlotte Gardner, bbc.co.uk, 17th November 2009 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Porpora Arias
With her enchanting voice, profound musicality and extraordinary vocal range, the Canadian soprano Karina Gauvin has been seducing audiences and critics around the world. Following the immense success of her CD Handel Arias, she returns with a new recording of arias, most never recorded, from the operas of Nicola Porpora (1686-1768). “Historians and musicians have assumed than Porpora was an also-ran but such dismissive judgements are in need of some reconsideration. There is no reason why we cannot appreciate and enjoy Porpora's music on its own terms - not least when the singer is the marvellous Karina Gauvin. The disc ends with just over half an hour of highlights from Arianna in Nasso: Gauvin's singing is spellbinding in the climactic scene in which poor Ariadne awakes and gradually realises to her horror that Theseus has abandoned her...” Gramophone Magazine, March 2010 | | | (also available to download from $10.50) | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Porpora: Arie d'Opera
Angelo Manzotti (counter-tenor) Concordia Ensemble, Musici della Concordia, I, Nicola Breda | |
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