Various Composers - Italian Soprano Opera Arias [Netrebko/Abbado-Mahler Chamber Orchestra]The Russian Soprano Anna Netrebko is nearly 40! [38], and here i was thinking she was in her twenties, well she looks good for her age, and on the front cover of the booklet she looks stunning [photograph by Clive Arrowsmith].
I must admit that Netrebko has a 'dark' Soprano voice, maybe leaning towards a Mezzo Soprano, on this disc we get only 6 Arias, but they are long-ish sections of Operas.
I really enjoyed her Willow Song/Ave Maria from Verdi's Otello, but most of all i was touched by her Amina in Bellini's La Sonnambula, in some ways it's the clarinets that steal the show, their long luscious lines caress and soothe, while Amina's heart breaks, the clarinets come to life [track 3, 1:14-1:38], closely joined by the flute, but it's in the main Aria that they weave their full magic [track 4, 1:17+], while Amina laments,
Passasti al par d'amore [You faded like love itself]
che un giorno sol duro [which lasted but for a day]
potria novel vigore [maybe my tears]
il pianto mio recarti [will revive you]
ma ravvivar i'amore [but they will never]
il pianto mio non puo [revive love]
A lovely touching Aria, and of course a happy ending around the corner, certainly Bellini has a way of using solo instruments in the Orchestra to powerful effect.
Here she is on YouTube, singing the Bellini Aria from La Sonnambula.
