Viva Vivaldi

Viva Vivaldi! is a concert by the Italian mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli interspersing arias from the 20 surviving operas of Vivaldi with two concertos. Given with the early music ensemble Il Giardino Armonico before a very appreciative audience in the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, the performance is part of Bartoli's exploration of the Venetian composer's opera music which also includes The Vivaldi Album. There is a startling dynamic energy, which contrasts powerfully with the more restrained interpretations by singers such as Emma Kirkby. Bartoli's natural Italian and the live atmosphere of Maria Grazia d'Alessio's oboe gives her interpretation of the quietly haunting and melodically rich "Non ti Lusinghi la Crudeltade" from Tito Manlio a particular piquancy. The Flautino Concerto is a most attractive interlude, while the more famous Lute/Violin Concerto beguiles with its exquisite lyricism.

Cast

Cecilia Bartoli

Self - Mezzo-soprano

Giovanni Antonini

Self - Conductor and Flautino Soloist

Enrico Onofri

Self - Concert Master and Violin

Mario Bianchi

Self - Violin

Luca Pianca

Self - Lute

Maria Grazia d' Alessio

Self - Oboe

Marco Scorticati

Self - Flute

Alberto Guerra

Self - Basson

Elena Russo

Self - Cello

Ricardo Boni

Self - Harpsichord