For her second recording as an exclusive Virgin Classics artist, soprano sensation Diana Damrau has chosen to sing a remarkably varied selection of concert and operatic arias by Mozart, ranging from the bravura (Donna Anna, Konstanze, Donna Elvira) to the more serious (Pamina) to the lighter soprano (soubrette roles such as Susanna, Blonde, and others).
Damrau has gained international acclaim for her Mozart renditions, alternating the roles of Pamina and The Queen of the Night at the Met last fall, as well as Konstanze in Die Entführung later in the season. Her breathtaking rendition of The Queen of the Night Aria from her first CD was also a highlight among critics. In fact, that album, Arie di Bravura, received international critical acclaim, rave reviews, and was granted Opera News Magazine's prestigious Editor's Choice award.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
On my Top 10 List:
This is one of the best opera CDs to be released in the last decade and definitely on of my Top 10 CDs for the last year. She already has recorded the best Queen of the Night since Edda Moser 30 years ago. Now she has recorded one of the best CDs of Mozart arias ever. If she isn't already considered a superstar, then she is well on her way to becoming one. This is a voice that is even from top to bottom, dramatic without pushing, and lyrical, yet with some bite when needed. If you buy one Mozart CD, this... more info
A talented singer - but a bridge too far, too soon:
I can see that I am going to be out on a limb compared with previous reviewers - but I notice that an Amazon.fr reviewer thinks similarly to me, so here goes anyway: I was looking forward to reviewing this disc, having been impressed by Diana Damrau when I heard her live as Zerbinetta and, like everyone else, wowed by her Queen of the Night on DVD and "YouTube", where her rendition of that fiendish aria has had hundreds of thousands of hits. She has since declared that she will no longer be performing... more info
Exceptional performance of Mozart:
The more I hear of Damrau, the more amazed I become.
This array of Mozart arias demonstrates her exceptional vocal capabilities and astounding range. There is nothing lacking in style and articulation.
But what is most astonishing is not vocal technique. It is the ability of this singer to express herself through the medium of singing.
Vitellia's aria from La Clemenza di Tito is a hideously difficult piece of vocal writing, so hideous because, as musical historians found out, Mozart... more info
So Lovely!:
Diana Damrau is unparalleled in her vocal talent. Her voice is full and has an almost lyric quality, but she still hits all those high notes at the very center. Beautifully done! She is the most natural-sounding soprano, and her voice is simply pleasant to hear. Unlike Dessay (who has her own qualities, to be sure), Damrau has more power and silvery beauty to her voice.
The only reservation I have was with the CD itself. Who the heck produced these pictures? They looked as if I printed them out on my... more info
Tracks:
Vorrei spiegarvi, oh Dio! K.418
No, che non sei capace K.419
La finta semplice: Senti l'eco, ove t'aggiri (Rosina)
Die Entführung aus dem Serail: Martern aller Arten (Konstanze)
Die Entführung aus dem Serail: Durch Zärtlichkeit undSchmeicheln (Blonde)
Die Zauberflöte: Ach, ich fühl's (Pamina)
Don Giovanni: Crudele . . .Non mi dir (Donna Anna)
Don Giovanni: In quali eccessi . . .Mi tradì (Donna Elvira)
Le nozze di Figaro: Giunse alfin il momento . . . Deh, vieni, non tardar (Susanna)
Le nozze di Figaro: E Susanna non vien . . . Dove sonoContessa)
Mitridate, rè di Ponto: Al destin che la minaccia -- (Aspasia)
La clemenza di Tito: S'altro che lagrime (Servilia)
La clemenza di Tito: Ecco il punto . . . Non più di fiori (Vitellia)
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