Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A favourite, 1 Oct 2006
I had heard some examples of Baroque opera on Radio 3's Early Music Show and wanted to hear more, so bought this knowing little about it. I found it refreshing, accessible and addictive. I'm no expert, but even I can tell that Fabio Biondi's ensemble play in what purports to be an "authentic" style (apparently this kind of thing can be controversial...) that is very distinct from the fuller and perhaps more refined orchestral sound that is more commonly heard. The sound is very bright, immediate and intimate which I think is partly what makes it so seductive a listen; it has nothing of the remote and fusty sound that some opera recordings have.
The double CD comes with a 30min or so DVD featuring several arias which is also fascinating. As well as getting a look at each of the singers in action, you also see a good deal of the musicians playing. This is all in a studio setting rather than in a staged performance, but nevertheless helps bring the performers much closer and is well worth a viewing.
Of the CDs on my car stereo this one gets the most plays, and even my five year old daughter has requested it on more than one occasion! If you think you're tempted by this, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Pasticcio" à lá Biondi., 23 April 2009
This is Vivaldi's second of the three "Pasticcios" he composed, that survived until today. The catchy areas, (some barroughw from his previous works like L'Olimpiade, Il Giustino or Farnace), vivaldi uses for the "positive" caracters of Bajazet, Asteria, or Idaspe.
Some of the most popular areas of other composers of the time like Hasse or Giacomelli, most performed on stage by the castrato Farinelli, for the "negative" caracters of Tamerlano, Andronico and Irene.
I had the chance to attend at this work with Mr.Biondi and his Europa Galante, with a diferent Cast of singers. (not stars of the range of the recording, but did they part well). I didn't had the CD at the time, so i run to buy-it.
The music is very captivative and is a perfect first incursion of a recording of a Vivaldi Opera by Mr.Biondi and e.g. I have quite some vivaldi and handel opera recordings at this time, and this one is one i listen more often. Wright from the overture (Motezuma), you can tell there's something "special" going on.
Abouth Marijana Mijanovick, she is briliant (listen her area "stringi le mie catene", (from Griselda), but i must say i prefer her "castrato" men roles. Its like she was born to do it! here's two examples: (Handel, Floridante, Curtis), or Giulio Cesare (Minkowski). She can whathever be very feminine when necessary.
David Daniels is the perfect Tamerlano.
This is well spent 2 hours and half, and i don't hesitate in higly recomend this work, conducted, in my opinion by the best baroque violin performer, and Vivaldi expert today.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
brilliant performance, 8 Jul 2009
This is an excellent, thrilling and stylish performance, beautifully sung. The music is mostly attractive and enjoyable. Although Vivaldi's music is very popular, his operas have been quite poorly served by the record industry (as have the operas of many other baroque composers). So this issue is especially welcome.
Why only 4 stars, then? Well Bajarzet is an attractive enough piece but to my ear it is as a whole far from Vivaldi at his best. And as an example of baroque opera it also doesn't, I feel, make the top grade. It has nothing like the life, variety, beauty, drama, depth or sheer inventiveness of many Handel operas, for example, and it compares poorly with the two dramatic works of Scarlatti that I have heard (both seem to me to be far richer in invention and emotional impact). Nor does it compare to my ears to Vivaldi's own Juditha Triuphans. So a good record but not a must have piece of the repertory.
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