Donne all’opera
Album Description
A groundbreaking project celebrating women in Baroque opera, conceived by contralto Francesca Ascioti and featuring the all-female ENEA Barock Orchestra under Valeria Montanari. This collection of arias written for legendary 18th-century divas—including Faustina Bordoni, Francesca Cuzzoni, and Vittoria Tesi—showcases the emotional range of operatic heroines: love, courage, seduction, cruelty, and triumph. Featuring an international cast of soloists including mezzo-soprano Vivica Genaux and Nicholas Tamagna performing Benedetto Marcello's witty "Carissima figlia," this recording includes several world premiere recordings of works by Orlandini, Vinci, Giacomelli, Porpora, and other Baroque masters.
Press
"The Marcello cantata rounds out the program. It is Nicholas Tamagna who lends his characteristic falsetto to Benati's words. He sustains a low tessitura – after all, the letter is addressed to 'Vittorina' Tesi – and soars into soprano range without faltering when evoking the 'friend' (Margherita Zani) or Cuzzoni. Sometimes whining, sometimes emphatic, nasal, sharp-tongued, pathetic or cheerful, Tamagna perfectly measures his effects and captures all the wit of this musical jest..."