COMPOSERS: Monteverdi
LABELS: Teldec
WORKS: Lamento d’Arianna; Lettera amorosa; Con che soavità; L’Orfeo (excerpts); L’incoronazione di Poppea (excerpts)
PERFORMER: Cathy Berberian (soprano) ; Concentus Musicus Wien/ Nikolaus Harnoncourt
CATALOGUE NO: 0630-10032-2 ADD (1969-75
Cathy Berberian, who died in 1983, ranked as a first-rate interpreter of Monteverdi. This release shows the extraordinary extent of her vocal powers in arias from his three great operas and in two pieces from the Concerto anthology of 1619. Her vibrato is never so wide as to interfere with perfect intonation, and her intonation is never at odds with the thought underlying the harmonies. The package is spoiled by a false portrait of Monteverdi, proved as long ago as 1978 to be that of an actor. Denis Stevens
Monteverdi: Lamento d'Arianna; Lettera amorosa; Con che soavità ; L'Orfeo (excerpts); L'incoronazione di Poppea (excerpts)
Cathy Berberian, who died in 1983, ranked as a first-rate interpreter of Monteverdi. This release shows the extraordinary extent of her vocal powers in arias from his three great operas and in two pieces from the Concerto anthology of 1619. Her vibrato is never so wide as to interfere with perfect intonation, and her intonation is never at odds with the thought underlying the harmonies. The package is spoiled by a false portrait of Monteverdi, proved as long ago as 1978 to be that of an actor. Denis Stevens
Our rating
4
Published: January 20, 2012 at 3:06 pm