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An interesting disc in that it pairs the so-called 'rivals' Mozart and Salieri
in a genre where they are little known, that is the castrato aria. Arno Raunig
is a suitably schooled interpreter and he gives well drilled performances
of all works on offer with sympathetic accompaniment by Kobera and his Viennese
orchestra. 'Il padre adoratao' from 'Idamante' is certainly rare Mozart and
one cannot help but admire the vocal syncopations that permeate Raunig's
singing of the proceedings. On the contrary, Sextus' famous aria from 'La
Clemenza di Tito' is slightly too thin for my liking although one cannot
be so preposterous as to fault such a difficult piece when it is sung with
musicality and feeling. The disc follows a similar pattern with three arias
and a motet by each composer. One cannot discount Salieri, especially in
the beautiful 'Perdermi' from 'Aspasia' which contains much wanton passion
and heinous thoughts as is the inflamingly erotic 'Lungi da te' from 'Armida',
surely this opera deserves a revival? Of the two motets, I refrain to single
out my favourite although it will suffice to say that 'Fremat Thyrannus'
was infinitely more welcome than the dreary 'Exsultate Jubilate'. Campion
secure a somewhat bassy recording in a fine acoustic and the booklet contains
copious notes on the 'sopranist' tradition together with an explanation of
this somewhat controversial term. Worth investigating.
Reviewer
Gerald Fenech
Performance:
Sound:
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Reviewer
Gerald Fenech
Performance:
Sound:
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Arno
Raunig: sopranist. Wien Landstrasse Chamber Choir and Amadeus Ensemble, Vienna
Walter Kobera 