Natalie Dessay Sings the Chanson of Debussy for Virgin Classics

Dessay: La Belle Voix. Buy the album by clicking here.

"Im ihrem Liedrecital steht Natalie Dessay ein Pianist zur Seite, der sich mit einer Gesamtaufnahme der Debussy-Klaviermusik höchste Meriten erworben hat: Philippe Cassard, von dem die Idee zu der Produktion ausging. Er hörte Natalie Dessay in Debussys Oper Pelléas et Mélisande und war überzeugt, dass sie als einzige Sängerin dieses Repertoire nicht nur zu singen, sondern wirklich zu verkörpern versteht. "Ihr Charisma als Darstellerin, ihre Energie, ihr Temperament, ihre Virtuosität und ihr Sinn für Humor sorgen für eine wirklich außergewöhnliche Interpretation". Natalie Dessay leiht in diesen Werken einer gewissen Marie Vasnier ihre Stimme – die Frau eines Debussy-Gönners, in die der Komponist verliebt war, und für die er rund 40 Lieder komponierte. Das Recital Clair de lune bietet eine Reihe von Raritäten – so das bisher noch nie eingespielte Lied Les Elfes (eine von vier Ersteinspielungen) und die Kantate La Damoiselle Elue." [Source]

Vivica Genaux to Give "Pyrotechnics" Concert in Kansas City

Firework Starter (Photo: Christian Steiner)

"Mezzo-Soprano Vivica Genaux and Europa Galante chamber orchestra will celebrate Vivaldi with a 'Pyrotechnics' concert at 8 p.m. Friday, February 3, at the Folly Theater (12th and Central Sts.) in downtown Kansas City, Mo. Vivica Genaux, the dazzling and theatrically engaging mezzo-soprano, joins forces with conductor Fabio Biondi and the Italian chamber orchestra Europa Galante, acclaimed for revolutionary and passionate performances of Baroque and Classical works. The evening’s concert, 'Vivaldi Pyrotechnics,' is fashioned after the heralded Virgin Classics album of Vivaldi’s arias recorded by Genaux and Europa Galante, and nominated for the 2011 Grammy for Best Classical Vocal Performance. Tickets for the 'Vivaldi Pyrotechnics' concert are priced $20, $40, $45, $55, and $65, and can be ordered online at http://hjseries.org link or by phone at 816-415-5025." [Source]

Véronique Gens Presents Third Installment of "Tragédiennes"

(Photo: Ribes & Van Tao/Virgin Classics)

"In her third Tragédiennes album for Virgin Classics, French soprano Véronique Gens continues her exploration of French operatic repertoire. Tragédiennes Vol. 3 covers the late 18th and 19th centuries and with a prime focus on roles for the deeper, darker-toned female voice. Christophe Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques join Gens once again in this release. The main emphasis in this recital is on arias written for mezzo soprano. Gens pays tribute to a series of Parisian divas would today probably be classified as mezzo sopranos: Marie-Thérèse Maillard, Cornélie Falcon, Rosina Stoltz and Pauline Viardot. It is evident that Gens can hold her own in such exalted historic company becomes clear from the BBC Music Magazine`s assessment of her last Tragédiennes album: 'Passion, ardor, rage, tenderness - the full gamut of human expression emerges in this selection of works created for French operatic femmes fatales ... Music director Christophe Rousset and soprano Véronique Gens' second disc of musical Tragédiennes is a thrilling mix of the familiar ... and the little known ... The whole makes a wonderful odyssey ... Gens's agile voice is the perfect vehicle to cope with these emotional extremes, from the enchanting to the chilling. She is never afraid to sacrifice pure beauty of sound in favor of rhetorical and dramatic effect, giving due weight to the plights, laments and plangent outpourings of these timeless, tragic heroines. Rousset coaxes some crack playing from Les Talens Lyriques, combining the immediacy and intimacy of chamber music with all the colors and intensity of a largescale symphony orchestra.'" [Source] Listening samples for all three albums in the Tragédiennes series are available after the jump.

Virgin Countertenors Philippe Jaroussky & Max Emanuel Cencic

Celebrate Franz Liszt's 200th Birthday With Diana Damrau

Click on the image to listen to audio samples from soprano

Diana Damrau's new album Liszt Lieder.

Diana Damrau Fall Release to Include Album of Liszt Lieder

TRACK LISTING:
01 Der Fischerknabe
02 Im Rhein, im schönen Strome
03 Die Lorelei
04 Die Drei Zigeuner
05 Es war ein König in Thule
06 Ihr Glocken von Marling
07 Über allen Gipfeln ist Ruh
08 Der du von dem Himmel bist
09 Benedetto sia'l giorno
10 Pace non trovo
11 I vidi in terra angelici costumi
12 Freudvoll und leidvoll
13 Vergiftet sind meine Lieder
14 Freudvoll und leidvoll (1860)
15 Es rauschen die Winde
16 Die stille Wasserrose
17 Bist du!
18 Es muss ein Wunderbares sein
19 O lieb
Diana Damrau, soprano
Helmut Deutsch, piano
Virgin Classics
Product ID: 0709282
Release dates: Germany - 10/21/11; USA & France - 11/1/11 

Virgin Classics Renews Joyce DiDonato Recording Contract

(Photo: Mary Umans/Virgin Classics)

At a time when major record labels seem to be dropping artists and recording fewer albums, good news comes from the EMI label Virgin Classics that they will be renewing their exclusive contract with Joyce DiDonato. A relationship that began in 2007, the mezzo-soprano has produced three solo albums for the company: Furore (Händel arias), Colbran, the Muse (Rossini arias) and Diva, Divo (opera arias by various composers). She has also appeared on an ensemble album Lamenti that features Baroque arias by 11 of today's top singers under conductor Emmanuelle Haïm, as well as recording the Vivaldi opera Ercole with Rolando Villazón, Diana Damrau, Vivica Genaux and Philippe Jaroussky. Her most recent release is the Rossini Stabat Mater with another all-star cast including Anna Netrebko, Lawrence Brownlee, Ildebrando d'Arcangelo under the direction of Antonio Pappano on the parent label EMI Classics. The next album to be released is a full opera recording of Händel's Ariodante in May which will also have an accompanying European tour with the star artist. Her next solo album will be released in October 2012, but no word on what the repertoire will be on the disc. Alain Lanceron, President of Virgin Classics, remarked, "I’m very happy with Joyce’s confidence in EMI/Virgin Classics and that the wonderful adventure we embarked upon some years ago will continue with many other remarkable projects." [Source, Source]