Search - Vesselina Kasarova :: Duets

Bel canto duets by bel canto specialists

Smorgy | Southern California, USA | 04/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Kasarova,Florez, Mei, Vargas singing bel canto duets... It really doesn't get better than this! The tracks are:

1. Rossini: ARMIDA: Amor/ possente nome!/ Vacilla a quegli accenti (Kasarova/Vargas)

2. Rossini: TANCREDI: L'aura che intorno spiri (Kasarova/Mei) from Act I

3. TANCREDI: M'abbraccia, Argirio (Kasarova/Vargas)

4. Bellini: I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI: Deserto e il luogo

5. I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI: Arresta. Qual mesto suon echeggia? (Kasarova/Vargas)

6. Rossini: MAOMETTO II: In questi estremi istanti (Kasarova/ Vargas/ Barbara Lavarian)

7. TANCREDI: Lasciami, non t'ascolto!/ Ah come mai quell'anima (Kasarova/Mei) from Act II

8. Rossini: OTELLO: Ah, vieni, nel tuo sangue (Kasarova as Otello, Florez as Rodrigo)

9. Rossini: LA CENERENTOLA: Tutto e deserto/ Una volta c'era/ Un soave non so che (Kasarova/Florez)



All tracks from previous studio recordings. All marvellously sung... very fluid voices that also convey drama of the music... And then the Otello duet is a treat. Otello was written for a very high tenor, but the booklet says Maria Malibran had sing the part... so Ms Kasarova has a go and proves that she could give the legendary singer a stiff competition (not to mention having something beyond high C in her arsenal).



I love the Tancredi duets the most, tho. The RCA CD of that opera is an absolute must buy. If you are a bel canto opera fan, you've gotta get this CD (and also the RCA set of Bellini's I Capuleti e i Montecchi!).



Downside... no libretto given."