ARIAS FOR FARINELLI (Vivica Genaux)
This is a compilation of virtuoso arias written specifically for the famous castrato Carlo Broschi AKA Farinelli (Riccardo Broschi who wrote track 3, was Farinelli’s brother and Nicola Porpora was his teacher). They are sung here by the American mezzo-soprano Vivica Genaux. This is not a soundtracks from the film ‘Farinelli: Il castrato’, nor is Ms. Genaux’s the voice you hear singing in that movie (the film-maker used a computerized blend of the soprano Ewa Godlewskya’s and the countertenor Derek Lee Ragin’s voice). And no, the hit tune from the film, ‘Lascia ch’io pianga’ from Handel’s opera ‘Rinaldo’ is not included in this set.

This young and very talented singer is quietly becoming a major artist especially in Europe. It helps that there is a masculine quality in her voice which adds to her very adept techniques and musicality in all their splendor. The range is very wide! The coloratura is as fast and furious as it is accurate.. with great trills. Sung with such ease as if these difficult arias are all in a day’s work. I get out of breathe just listening. And there is none of the breathiness associated with many other coloratura specialists. It's jaw-dropping how long she can keep singing coloratura passages between breathe!

I don't know much about these selected aria. They are from Baroque operas that aren't being staged anymore. But in the days when the Castrati ruled opera, the main attraction was virtuosic singing. And virtuosity is what you get plenty of with this CD. And it's virtuosity that doesn't come at the expense of the musical mood, too!

Tracks 5-7 are parts of the instrumental (no singing) Strings Concerto in D minor, composed by Baldassare Galuppi, the Maestro di cappella at Venice’s famed St. Mark’s Cathedral. I guess they are included here for the benefit of Rene Jacobs and his Akademie fur Alte Musik. It is well played with period instruments, but by the time I got through track 8 I couldn’t wait to hear Genaux singing again.

Singer: Vivica Genaux, Conductor: Rene Jacobs / Akademie fur Alte Musik - Berlin
Tracks:
1. N Porpora: Orfeo: ‘Dall’amor piu sventurato
2.N Porpora: Orfeo: ‘Ombra fedele anch’io
3. R. Broschi: Idaspe: ‘Qual guerriero in campo armato’
4.G Giacomelli: Adriano in Siria: ‘Mancare oh Dio mi sento’
5.B Galluppi: Concerto in C minor: ‘Grave’
6. “ ” : ’Allegro’
7. “ ” : Andante
8.N Porpora: Polifemo: ‘Oh volesser gli Dei/ Dolci freschi aurette
9.N Porpora/JA Hasse: Or la nube procellosa.
10.JA Hasse: Artaserse: Per questo dolce amplesso
11.B Giacomelli: Merope: Quell’usignolo

Sound quality is very good. The CD comes with a rather thick booklet with article on Farinelli, history of how the Baroque opera are performed, and libretto in French, Italian, English, and German. And a good color photo of Ms Genaux and the Akademie fur Alte Musik members.

All in all, this is a must buy CD for any lover of Baroque vocal music. The level of performance by the soloists and the orchestra conducted by Maestro Jacobs is jaw-dropping. I don’t think even the great Farinelli could have done much better.

Sources:
1. CD booklet
2. http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/misc/farinelli.htm (How the voice of Farinelli in the film ‘Farinelli: Il castrato’ was created).

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Driving