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Rossini - Opera Arias & Overtures | Virgin 3857882

Rossini - Opera Arias & Overtures

Label: Virgin

Cat No: 3857882

Barcode: 0094638578826

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 1

Release Date: 3rd September 2007

This product has now been deleted. Information is for reference only.

Contents

Works

Rossini, Gioachino

Aureliano in Palmira
» Dolci silvestri... Perche mai le luci apprimo Arsace
» Overture
La donna del lago
» Ah si pera...ormai la morte
» Mura felici
Semiramide
» Eccomi alfine in Babilonia
» In si barbara sciagura
» Overture
Tancredi
» Oh patria! Dolce e ingrate patria Tancredi
» Overture

Artists

Max Emmanuel Cencic (countertenor)
Orchestre de Chambre de Geneve

Conductor

Michael Hofstetter

Works

Rossini, Gioachino

Aureliano in Palmira
» Dolci silvestri... Perche mai le luci apprimo Arsace
» Overture
La donna del lago
» Ah si pera...ormai la morte
» Mura felici
Semiramide
» Eccomi alfine in Babilonia
» In si barbara sciagura
» Overture
Tancredi
» Oh patria! Dolce e ingrate patria Tancredi
» Overture

Artists

Max Emmanuel Cencic (countertenor)
Orchestre de Chambre de Geneve

Conductor

Michael Hofstetter

About

The conquests of the Baroque revolution have opened to countertenors a widening field of investigation. Max Emanuel Cencic is one of the revelations of these recent years: his exceptional means will enable him to blissfully explore Handel or Scarlatti… and even Rossini and Johann Strauss.” - Cadences
In today’s increasing number of countertenors, Max Emanuel Cencic stands out as unique. Born in Zagreb but educated in Vienna, he is already a baroque specialist whose repertoire isn’t limited to standard countertenor roles. With his recent triumph in Toulouse as Orlovsky and his television appearance as Cherubino, Max Emanuel Cencic is paving the way for countertenors who will sing “trouser roles”.
Indeed, this recital of opera arias by Rossini is an exciting musical wager: Cencic, under the direction of Michael Hofstetter, breaks the 200 year-old tradition of female mezzo sopranos incarnating male characters. This recording brings to the fore the idea of a modern countertenor personalising the male mezzo roles in chronological development, spanning from Tancredi (1813), Aureliano in Palmira (1813), Donna del Lago (1819) until the climax of Rossini’s Neapolitan Era with Semiramide (1823).
The decline in popularity of the Italian opera seria at the beginning of the 19th century corresponded to the waning of the public’s fascination for the castrato voice. In the midst if this crisis Rossini brought a new life to Italian opera, and sparked off a rebirth: whilst some of his earlier works, like Aureliano in Palmira were written for castrati, at the same time he brought Italian opera towards a new age of “trouser roles” where male characters were sung by female singers.
Max Emanuel started his vocal training in early childhood, appearing publicly for the first time at the age of six. He sang the aria "Queen of the Night" in a television show. Subsequently, he appeared at several concerts and had guest roles at the Zagreb Opera. From 1987 to 1992 he was a member of the Vienna Boys' Choir but in 1992 he started pursuing a solo career. By employing a special technique, he was able to continue singing soprano. Until 1997, Max Emanuel performed as a highly successful soloist in Japan, the US and Europe. He also took part in several opera productions.
In 2001 Cencic switched his vocal fach and has been performing as a countertenor ever since. In addition to major roles in Baroque operas, he has recorded several solo CDs - all have been received enthusiastically by music lovers and critics alike. Capriccio released a DVD about Cencic in June 2006 as well as a solo CD featuring Basso Continuo cantatas by Domenico Scarlatti.

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