Caldara reviews
Contralto (Nathalie Stutzmann)
Nathalie Stutzmann (contralto); Orfeo 55 (Erato)
Queen of Baroque (Cecilia Bartoli)
Cecilia Bartoli (mezzo-soprano), et al; Il Giardino Armonico/Giovanni Antonini (Decca)
Caro Gemello: Farinelli and Metastasia
Valer Sabadus; Concerto Köln (Sony)
Caldara: Maddalena à piedi di Cristo
Le Banquet Céleste/Damien Guillon (Alpha Classics)
Farinelli (Cecilia Bartoli)
Cecilia Bartoli (mezzo-soprano); Il Giardino Armonico/Giovanni Antonini (Decca)
Dolce Duello: Cecilia Bartoli in friendly rivalry with Sol Gabetta
Despite its sugary title and frothy cover, this disc features music-making of the highest order and a rigorously researched programme of Baroque arias with obbligato cello – a sweet duel (or ‘dolce duello’) between the human voice and the then young instrument, oft praised for its vocal qualities. Long-term friends and colleagues, mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli and cellist Sol Gabetta make for valiant duelling partners who converse, parry and riposte in spirited combat.