Ann Hallenberg, Les Talens Lyriques & Christophe Rousset - Farinelli (Live) (2016) [Official Digital Download 24/88]

With more than one million copies sold, the original soundtrack of Gérard Corbiau’s film Farinelli established the international reputation of Les Talens Lyriques. In 1994, in order to reinvent the voice of Carlo Broschi aka Farinelli (1705-1782), a computer was used to mix the timbres of Derek Lee Ragin, countertenor, and Ewa Mallas-Godlewska, soprano. No less would have been sufficient to incarnate the octaves and the phenomenal power of this singer, history’s first rock star.

Now Ann Hallenberg, a flavorful and ambiguous mezzo, has been chosen by Christophe Rousset to portray Farinelli. “There were two periods in Farinelli’s career. The first was virtuosic, flamboyant, during which he was financially successful and gave many performances. The second one was more melancholic, introverted, and sensitive. Ann is able to do justice to both of these.”

Following their sell-out Farinelli concerts, Christophe Rousset and the Swedish mezzo-soprano Ann Hallenburg release their much-anticipated recording: Farinelli – A Portrait, out now on Aparté. The recording, made from a live radio broadcast in Norway, includes works by composers Broschi, J.C Bach, Giacomelli, Porpora, Hasse and Leo that were sung by the world’s most famous 18th century castrato. The success of the soundtrack to the film Farinelli (1994), which sold more than a million discs worldwide, firmly established Les Talens Lyriques on the international Baroque scene two decades ago. To mark the ensemble’s 25th anniversary, an exclusive sampler of 25 tracks accompanies the Farinelli disc, with music from Les Talens Lyriques’ rich collection of recordings. The Farinelli disc coincides with the release of the Handelian diptych Alcina/Tamerlano by Les Talens Lyriques and Rousset with Outhere. Rousset and Hallenberg have formed a fierce partnership over the past years through their Farinelli collaboration, presenting these long-forgotten gems of the Italian operatic repertoire across Europe to critical acclaim and packed concert halls. Today only few singers can master the pyrotechnics, vocal range and breath control that the castrati uniquely possessed in the past.

Hallenberg, who was awarded with a 2016 International Opera Award, also features on the Blu-ray of the Handel double bill production by Pierre Audi of Alcina and Tamerlano, performed by Les Talens Lyriques and conducted by Christophe Rousset. Originally staged by Audi in the beautiful baroque Drottingholms Slottsteater in Stockholm in 2000, this production was revived and filmed in 2015 at La Monnaie, featuring Sandrine Piau in her role debut as Alcina and Christophe Dumoux as Tamerlano.



Tracklist:
01. Artasere, Act III, Scene 1: Aria "Son qual nave ch'agitata" (Arbace) (Live)
02. Idaspe, Act II, Scene 11: Aria "Ombra fedele anch' io" (Dario) (Live)
03. Adriano in Siria, Act I, Scene 2: Aria "Già presso al termine" (Farnaspe) (Live)
04. Semiramide riconosciuta, Act II, Scene 5: Aria "Si pietoso il tuo labro" (Mirteo) (Live)
05. Polifemo, HelN 31, Act I: Alto Giove (Acio) (Live)
06. Adriano in Siria, Act II, scene 7: Aria "Passagier che incerto" (Farnaspe) (Live)
07. Cleofide, Act I: Ouverture (Live)
08. Catone in Utica, Act I, Scene 7: Aria "Che legge spietata" (Arbace) (Live)
09. Catone in Utica, Act I: Aria "Cervo in bosco" (Arbace) (Live)
10. Alcina, HWV 34, Act III: Aria "Sta nell'Ircana" (Ruggiero) (Live)
11. Rinaldo, HWV 7a, Act II: Aria "Lascia ch'io pianga" (Almirena) (Live)
12. Semiramide riconosciuta, Act III, Scene 4: Aria "In braccio a mille furie" (Mirteo) (Live)

Composers:
Broschi, Riccardo (1698-1756)
Giacomelli, Geminiano (c.1692-1740)
Handel, George Frideric (1685-1759)
Hasse, Johann Adolph (1699-1783)
Leo, Leonardo (1694-1744)
Porpora, Nicola Antonio (1686-1768)
Vinci, Leonardo (1690-1730)

Personnel:
Ann Hallenberg, mezzo-soprano
Les Talens Lyriques
Christophe Rousset, direction