Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5: Aria (Cantilena) (for voice and at least 8 cellos)

Verónica Cangemi was born in Mendoza, Argentina and was a cellist in the Mendoza Symphonic Orchestra before winning both the National Singing Competition in Argentina and the Francisco Viñas Competition in Barcelona. Her first European performance was in Gluck’s Armide with Les Musiciens du Louvre. She has concentrated largely on Mozart and the Baroque repertoire, working with such directors and ensembles as Giovanni Antonini, Ivor Bolton, William Christie, Adam Fischer, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, René Jacobs, Ton Koopman, Sir Neville Marriner and Zubin Mehta.

The Baroque pieces on the album contain highly virtuosic music by composers like Nicola Porpora that would have been performed by the great castrato Farinelli, as well as arias by Vivaldi and Handel renowned for their challenging vocal lines. The Latin flavour of the disc is complemented by the inclusion of 20th century pieces by Piazzolla, Guastavino and Villa-Lobos all of whom hail from Cangemi’s native South America.

'Something sensational . . . Her voice is a phenomenon of nature.' Opera World

A light classical CD of delectably romantic miniatures for the oboe with guitar. Most of the repertoire was written for other instruments, but works beautifully on this combination.

Award winning saxophonist Gerard McChrystal comes from Derry, N.Ireland and has become the player of choice for composers and performers internationally. Gerard has premiered concertos by Sir Malcolm Arnold, Dave Heath and John Metcalf and in his career to date performed with, amongst others, Philip Glass, Smith Quartet and Craig Ogden. This brilliantly devised new CD, with many works transcribed by Gerard, is at times melancholic but this deeply personal album is always beautiful and captivating.

Unique for her dramatic flair, expert musicality, and interpretive powers, soprano Patricia Petibon indulges in her love of Luso-Iberian music. From zarzuela to art song, folk song, the Aria Cantilena of Brazil’s Villa-Lobos, and the traditional Afro-Brazilian Ogundé uareré, Patricia Petibon also samples the new. She includes the world-premiere recording of Nicolas Bacri’s song cycle, which was written in dedication to her.

Patricia Petibon adds spice by teaming up with flamenco musicians for one-of-a-kind performances of the zarzuela hit Adios, Granada and the folk tune El vito. Beloved favorites are not neglected: Petibon’s take on La tarántula, Marinela, Canto negro, and La petenera sparkle with light and life.

Soprano Anna Moffo was born in Pennsylvania in 1932 of Italian parents. After a period at the Curtis Institute, she went back to her ancestral homeland to study in Perugia and Rome. She made her debut in 1955 at Spoleto, as Norina in Don Pasquale, but her big break came when she starred as Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly in a production broadcast on RAI. She became an overnight celebrity, with performances at Salzburg, Vienna, La Scala, and Naples, performing with Callas, di Stefano and Panerai, and making recordings with Karajan. She made her Met debut in 1959 as Violetta, one of her signature roles.

Moffo was one of the most attractive of the post-war sopranos, and resisted attempts to lure her to Hollywood. Her singing was unblemished with mannerisms, and she had superb gifts as a linguist, as the recording of the Canteloube illustrates. The album is a stylishly programmed recital of post-Romantic yet deeply romantic music that makes the most direct possible appeal to the listener. It was a hit on its original release and has not been available for several years.

Recording made in 1964

New booklet essay by vocal expert Richard Stokes

The recording boasts an impressive line-up of artists including Ruth Rogers on violin, Gemma Rosefield on cello, Spanish pianist Jose Menor, soprano Laura Mitchell, percussion from the O-Duo, Vietnamese accordion player Phuong Nguyen, Venezuelan singer Luzmira Zerpa and the famous Sacconi String Quartet.

Highlights include the world premiere recording of Alec Roth’s ‘Quintet for Guitar and Strings’, written especially for the Sacconi Quartet and Morgan Szymanski as well as the first recording of Simone Iannarelli’s ‘Valzer Brillante’ for guitar and strings.

Other featured composers include Manuel M. Ponce, Astor Piazzolla, Leo Brouwer, Paulo Bellinati and Antonio Lauro.