Description

The World of the Castrati — The Voice of Angels, Virgin Classics (2 CD + DVD)

Brand new! Factory packaged! As pictured! Buy with confidence!

Product Details:

Product Type: Audio CD (2-disc set with bonus DVD)
Brand / Label: Virgin Classics / EMI
Title: The World of the Castrati — The Voice of Angels
Release Year: 2010 (compilation)
UPC: 5099964879123
Genre: Classical / Vocal / Baroque opera

Product Features

Format: 2 × CD + 1 bonus DVD
DVD: region-free NTSC, approx. 33 minutes, six arias performed on film
Audio sources: 1978–2010 EMI / Virgin Classics recordings
Condition: Brand new, factory sealed

Overview

The World of the Castrati gathers the music written for the legendary high-voiced singers of the 17th and 18th centuries — the castrati who dazzled all of Europe — performed by the finest countertenors and sopranos of today. It's a smart way to hear this repertoire: one disc sung by female singers, one by male, so you can compare how modern voices reclaim these once-impossible roles.

The cast is extraordinary. Disc one brings Natalie Dessay, Kate Royal, Stephanie Blythe, Vivica Genaux, Joyce DiDonato, and Véronique Gens; disc two answers with Philippe Jaroussky, René Jacobs, Lawrence Zazzo, Max Emanuel Cencic, Gérard Lesne, and David Daniels. Music by Handel, Vivaldi, Monteverdi, Gluck, Mozart, and J.C. Bach runs throughout.

A bonus DVD adds six arias performed on film. For lovers of Baroque opera, it's a rich, well-chosen survey of a fascinating chapter in vocal history.

Interesting Facts

Castrati were male singers whose unbroken high voices, combined with adult lung power, made them the superstars of Baroque opera.
The set deliberately splits the repertoire between female singers (Disc 1) and male countertenors (Disc 2).
Performers include some of the most celebrated voices of recent decades, from Philippe Jaroussky to Joyce DiDonato.
The bonus DVD is region-free NTSC, playable on NTSC and modern PAL-compatible systems worldwide.
The recordings are drawn from EMI / Virgin Classics catalogue spanning 1978 to 2010.

Track Listing

CD 1 — Sung by female singers: arias by Monteverdi, Handel, Caldara, Vivaldi and Mozart, performed by Natalie Dessay, Kate Royal, Sonia Prina, Stephanie Blythe, Laura Polverelli, Vivica Genaux, Elīna Garanča, Patrizia Ciofi, Joyce DiDonato, Anne Sofie von Otter, Della Jones and Véronique Gens (approx. 77:21).

CD 2 — Sung by male singers: arias by Vivaldi, Handel, Hasse, Gluck, Mozart, J.C. Bach and Rossini, performed by Philippe Jaroussky, James Bowman, René Jacobs, Lawrence Zazzo, Max Emanuel Cencic, Gérard Lesne and David Daniels (approx. 67:31).

Bonus DVD: Six arias by Monteverdi, Handel, J.C. Bach and Vivaldi performed on film (approx. 33:02).