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20/01/2005 Cecilia Bartoli - one of the great voices of the age
By late January, the Music for Grown-Ups gig diary is usually filling up, with top performers in rock, jazz, opera, and much else besides, already having announced shows for the year. But there have been few top gig announcements so far this year - no must-see rock gigs (aka Dylan/Young) yet, and, of the top jazzers, only Herbie Hancock is definitely coming to town. The classical calendar is fuller, with bookings already made to see three of the top female voices - Cecilia Bartoli and Renee Fleming in fully-staged operas, and Lorraine Hunt Lieberson in a recital of Bach Cantatas. Let's concentrate here on Bartoli - more about Fleming and Lieberson later. Cecilia Bartoli, the Italian mezzo-soprano, is making a rare appearance this summer in Rossini's Il Turco In Italia, at the Royal Opera House. Whether appearing in concert recital or in a fully staged opera production, Bartoli is one of the biggest draws in the world. Her vivacious, bubbly performance evokes a passionate response from a large, loyal following. The voice is special. She appears equally happy at the top, middle and bottom of her wide range. Her fluidity in negotiating demanding complex decorative runs is remarkable. But the voice's key character is a rich, creamy tone. Her expressive ability - the ability to emote, as each song demands - is a trademark. To see her standing in front of a small period orchestra during an instrumental passage, awaiting her re-entry cue, is one of the great sights of contemporary concert-going. She sways and marks the tempo just like any jazz or rock performer - living the moment of the music. And, unusual for one with such a rare talent, Cecilia Bartoli communicates joyful, generous warmth, a sharing of great art with her audience. Not for her the distance or cool of the diva. The Italian mezzo has an enviable back catalogue of recitals and full-on opera recordings, with 27 albums on Decca, just one of the labels to have issued her work. She can also be seen in an unusually large selection of DVDs - hardly surprising, as she looks almost as good as she sounds. The best way to sample Cecilia Bartoli is via one of the compilations - Cecilia Bartoli: A Portrait, or the more recent The Art of Cecilia Bartoli. Grown-up music lovers should catch Cecilia Bartoli soon, whether live, or on record - she's one of the great voices of the age.
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