> Drama Queens. Joyce DiDonato (mezzo-soprano),
I Complesso Barocco (Alan Curtis, conductor).
Virgin CD.
The "flame-toned American mezzo", as Britain's
Daily Telegraph called her, has a right royal time in 13 arias from operas - in the roles of 11 different queens, princesses and sorceresses. Flames seem to have spread to her red silk gown featured in photos on the disc, case and booklet! The programme recorded well in Rome in July this year includes Handel and Hasse's versions of Cleopatra plus four other queens by other composers, including Monteverdi and Orlandini. The two sorceresses are Handel's Alcina and Haydn's Armida.
Selected as Gramophone's "artist of the year" in 2010, DiDonato has a fearless and technically accomplished approach to all her opera roles and carries off her regal themes with ease.
Highlight: Handel's Alcina banishes a lover, sparks fly.
> Wolf-Ferrari: Wind Concertinos.
Soloists with Rome Symphony Orchestra.
Naxos CD.
Francesco La Vecchia conducts the Roman musicians in three pleasant, melodic and very lyrical instrumental compositions by the Venetian-born Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari (1876-1948). Andrea Tenaglia is oboe soloist in the
Idillio-concertino in A major Op.15, William Moriconi plays the cor anglais in the
Concertino in A flat Op.34, and Giuseppe Ciabocchi is the bassoonist in
Suite-Concertino in F major Op.16. The three represent the composer's complete wind concerto output and show them as expressive works for a small orchestra with the reed soloists.
Tenaglia has the sweetest tone on his instrument, the bassoonist enjoys all the composer's delights in his solo role, and the more elegiac cor anglais showpiece is also well-played, although perhaps too closely miked (key noise sometimes intrudes).
Highlight: no ill winds for listeners.
