Sandrine Piau Offers Insight To Her New Mozart Recording

(Photo: Sandrine Expilly)

"When Naïve offered me the chance to record a Mozart recital in 2001, it was something I hadn't even dared to dream of, because he seemed to me to be the composer most emblematic of every kind of perfection. I made the disc with a feeling almost of transgression and a tremendous fear of not being worthy of him. Now, thirteen years later, I come back to Mozart with the experience of the roles I've tackled on stage in the meantime. Donna Anna is probably the character I most wanted to include, not only because I've sung her in the theatre but also because the part is traditionally given to heavier voices than mine. Like any so-called Baroque singer, I'm suspicious of traditions, and I like the idea that behind her cries of suffering she has still retained a redemptive gentleness, which one can sense in 'Non mi

dir.' The arias I've chosen are often tormented. I suppose this is a disc of maturity, which both reflects my trajectory over these past few years and catches me at a specific moment in my life, like a snapshot." - Sandrine Piau [Source] The recording features arias from Lucio Silla, Don Giovanni, La Finta Giardiniera, Le Nozze di Figaro, Idomeneo, Mitridate, and Il Re Pastore. Purchase the new album, Desperate Heroines, by clicking here and read an inspiring review of the disc here. You can listen to audio clips of each track by clicking here. 

Anne Sofie Von Otter Serves Up Two Sides of French Song

"The love of Sweden's most famous singer for the French language is well known. Anne Sofie von Otter performs this album with exceptional sensitivity and intelligence. Von Otter's successful journeys beyond the boundaries of classical music, whether with Elvis Costello or Brad Mehldau, inform her unique view of two centuries of French Chanson, from Mélodies by Fauré and Debussy to Barbara, Piaf, Ferre, Moustaki, and Trenet. United by the magic of words and the emotion of simple and sensitive music, these melodies are timeless treasures of the French heritage and spirit, which this great artist performs with her legendary elegance." [Source] Preview the EPK for the album and check out the entire track list for the 2-CD set after the jump. You can pre-order your copy of the recording here.

New Releases: Gruberova, Mields, Piau and Thielemann

Canadian Artists Release Recording of Händel Delights

"The oratorios from which Karina Gauvin and Marie-Nicole Lemieux perform excerpts on Streams of Pleasure were premiered between 1744 and 1750 and are among Handel’s last compositions. Soprano and contralto are joined for this pleasurable collection by internationally acclaimed early music ensemble Il Complesso Barocco under its musical director Alan Curtis. Highly regarded contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux has recorded for numerous labels, and now enjoys an exclusive contract with Naïve, for which she has recorded the title roles in Vivaldi’s operas Griselda and Orlando furioso, and La Fida Ninfa. In recent times she has released a critically acclaimed programme of Vivaldi arias with the Ensemble Matheus under Jean-Christophe Spinosi. Fellow Canadian soprano Karina Gauvin’s has recorded for labels including ATMA, Astrée, and Dorian, and has appeared on Naïve’s recording of Vivaldi’s Tito Manlio as well Handel’s Ezio, Alcina, and Tolomeo with I’l Complesso Barocco for DG and DG Archiv." [Source] Listen to excerpts from the album here and check out the complete track listing after the jump.