Arie Di Bravura

Diana Damrau (soprano) & Le Cercle de l’Harmonie, Jérémie Rhorer

Diana Damrau is de meest opwindende sopraan van nu. Ze is een weergaloze Konstanze, ze zingt "Martern aller Arten" (met inbegrip van de  meestal weggelaten delen) met gif en precisie, en een schitterend neurotische Elvira. Haar verbazingwekkende, stratosferische voordracht is het best aangetoond in de onaardse schoonheid van "Vorrei spiegarvi" en het briljante "No, che non sei capace", beide geschreven door Mozart voor Aloysia Lange om te zingen in andermans opera.

In her second recording as an exclusive Virgin Classics artist Diana Damrau interprets concert and operatic arias by Mozart in a programme which displays her virtuosity and impressive vocal range.

Indeed Diana Damrau’s new recital shows she can sing practically all of Mozart’s notably varied soprano roles – ranging from the bravura (Donna Anna, Konstanze, Donna Elvira…) via the more serious (Pamina) to the lighter soprano (generally soubrette roles such as Susanna, Blonde…).

From her first recording everyone noted her outstanding Queen of the Night – here she is Pamina (in New York’s Met last Fall, Diana Damrau alternated the two roles with brio). She is also Susanna and the Contessa (Le Nozze di Figaro), Konstanze and Blonde (Die Entführung), Donna Anna and Elvira (Don Giovanni), Servilia and Vitellia (La Clemenza di Tito), pairing major soprano roles within the operas, and concert arias.

As for her first recital, ‘Arie di bravura’, French conductor Jérémie Rhorer, who is rapidly gaining international recognition, directs his French period-instrument ensemble Le Cercle de l’Harmonie

Recording exclusively for EMI/Virgin Classics (now Warner/Erato), Diana Damrau made her recording debut with Arie di Bravura – a collection of Mozart and Salieri arias. Subsequent solo releases have included Donna – a recording of Mozart arias, COLORaturaS – a selection of coloratura arias from the romantic period, Poesie – orchestral songs by Richard Strauss (awarded the ECHO Klassik prize in 2011) and songs by Franz Liszt.

Mozart: 
 O zittre nicht (from Die Zauberflöte)
 Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen (from Die Zauberflöte)
 In un instante... Parto, m’affretto (from Lucio Silla)
 Basta, vincesti… Ah, non lasciarmi Didone K468 

Righini: 
 Il natal d’Apollo: Ove son? Qual’aure io spiro Erifile
 Il natal d’Apollo: Ombra dolente Alceo 

Salieri: 
 Cublai, gran Khan dei Tartari: Fra i barbari sospetti Alzima
 L’Europa riconosciuta: Numi, respiro… Ah, lo sento Europa
 Cublai, gran Khan dei Tartari: D’un insultante orgoglio Alzima
 Der Rauchfangkehrer: Basta, vincesti… Ah non lasciarmi Fräule Nannette
 Semiramide: Sento l’amica speme Semiramide
 L’Europa riconosciuta: Quando più irato freme Semele
 La finta scema: Se spiegar potessi appieno Vanesia

"Diana Damrau's intelligently planned and superbly executed recital… I can’t remember when I last enjoyed a Mozart recital of this kind so much."
BBC Music Magazine - December 2008 *****

"…Jérémie Rhorer draws tangy, rhythmically lively playing from his period band. "Taste", "fire", "flexibility", "sweetness", "grace of execution" - these were the qualities especially prized in singers of Mozart's day. On this showing Damrau, like Lucia Popp before her, has them all."
Gramophone Magazine - March 2009