John Beard, Francesco Borosini, Annibale Fabri: these three men helped to revolutionized music in the 18th century. Their voices moved the greatest composers of the time to increasingly write for tenors, a move from the Castrati, which had dominated opera since 1600. Now, three centuries since this trio’s brilliance encouraged a surge of new repertoire for the vocal range, world renowned tenor Ian Bostridge celebrates their legacy with his stunning new release, Three Baroque Tenors.
This recording features works by the masters of the age, including six world premier recordings of arias by Caldara, Conti, Gasparini, Handel, Scarlatti and Vivaldi. The previously unrecorded Handel aria is ”Scorta siate a passi miei”, from the “Borosini” edition of his famous opera Giulio Cesare. In this version, Borosini sang the role of Sesto, which was traditionally performed by a castrato with different arias. Much of the repertoire selected by Bostridge has rarely been performed in modern times.
Three Baroque Tenors is a recording that is as fascinating as it is magnificent. It is an overdue homage to this neglected musical evolution and the men who inspired it. It illustrates both Bostridge’s gift for interpreting repertoire from this period, as previously heard on his Great Handel recording, and his skills as a historian. Bostridge, who received his D.Phil in History from Corpus Christi College, Oxford, is well respected in historical and journalism circles. His new collection of essays, On Music, will be published by Faber & Faber in spring 2011.
“I was totally disarmed by this CD. Ian Bostridge is at his most vivid, expressive and delicately ornamental in homage to three baroque singers...Bostridge avoids that wearying tendency to fizz the music up breathlessly, opting instead for clean edges and eloquence. The English Concert, conducted by Bernard Labadie, add real verve.” The Observer, 24th October 2010
“It's a rich collection, imaginatively adumbrating the talents of three master-singers of different vocal types and weights united by superior technique and musicianship.” BBC Music Magazine, December 2010 ***
“He's a graceful performer and a superb word-painter: he sings the word 'sweet' in different arias with surprising varieties of meaning...accompaniments are lively and stylish.” Classic FM Magazine, December 2010 ****
“Fabri evidently had the breath controlled for extended runs on one syllable: Here Bostridge is first-rate, whether slow, as in Vivaldi's Arsilda, or in the vigorous roulades of Poro...The English Concert provides excellent support, with a lovely bassoon obbligato from Alberto Grazzi in the air by Boyce.” Gramophone Magazine
“his smooth, supple voice is well able to deal with the multiple styles, the virtuosity, and even the baritone-register passages that one might have anticipated his light tone struggling to do justice to. His superb diction means that you don't miss a word, his ornamentation is elegant and precise, and texts are intelligently interpreted.” Charlotte Gardner, bbc.co.uk, 12th December 2010
“Bostridge has the vocal flexibility needed...[Rise, glory, rise] is simply magnificent, with trumpet triumphng in martial bravura...this enjoyable selection may be an eye-opener for those who do not associate Bostridge with this type of music or with such technical agility” International Record Review, December 2010
