Joyce DiDonato – Stella di Napoli (2014) [FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

On Stella di Napoli (Star of Naples), the American mezzo-soprano’s creamy tone and dramatic prowess breathe new life into little-known arias by Mercadante, Michele Carafa (a student of Cherubini and close friend of Rossini), Carlo Valentini and the prolific opera composer Giovanni Pacini, whose Stella di Napoli (1845) gives the album its title. Joyce worked closely with Italian conductor Riccardo Minasi (whose previous projects include Bellini’s Norma with Cecilia Bartoli) to bring three unjustly neglected arias to light in new editions and world premiere recordings. Alongside these little-known gems, Joyce presents a sumptuous Bel Canto banquet with music by the three greats — Bellini, Rossini and Donizetti — including the latter’s Maria Stuarda: a tour-de-force signature role for Joyce, recently screened in cinemas and released on DVD from the New York Metropolitan Opera.

„this luscious collection of Italian bel canto opera arias presents the incandescent DiDonato on top form, the creamy tones effortlessly whipped into endless, kaleidoscopic threads of melody…Riccardo Minasi and the Orchestra of the Opéra National de Lyon bring their own pleasures with flute, harp and clarinet solos beautifully enhancing diaphanous textures.” (The Times)

Tracklist:
01. Stella di Napoli, Part I: “Ove t’aggiri, o barbaro” (Stella, Marta)
02. Adelson e Salvini, Act 1: “Dopo l’oscuro nembo” (Nelly)
03. Le nozze di Lammermoor, Act 2: “L’amica ancor non torna… Oh, di sorte crudel” (Lucia)
04. Zelmira, Act 2: “Riedi al soglio” (Zelmira, Polidoro, Ilo)
05. La vestale, Act 2: “Se fino al cielo ascendere” (Giunia)
06. Elisabetta al castello di Kenilworth, Act 3: “Par che mi dica ancora” (Amelia)
07. I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Act 2: “Tu sola, o mia Giulietta… Deh! tu, bell’anima” (Romeo)
08. Il sonnambulo, Act 1: “Lasciami… Se il mar sommesso mormora” (Adele, Sofia)
09. Maria Stuarda, Act 3: “Io vi rivedo alfin… Deh! Tu di un’umile preghiera” (Maria)
10. Saffo, Act 3: “Flutto che muggi… Teco dall’are pronube… L’ama ognor qual io l’amai” (Saffo, Faone, Climene, Alcandro)

Composers:
Bellini, Vincenzo (1801-35)
Carafa, Michele Enrico (1787-1872)
Donizetti, Gaetano (1797-1848)
Mercadante, Giuseppe Saverio Raffaele (1795-1870)
Pacini, Giovanni (1796-1867)
Rossini, Gioacchino Antonio (1792-1868)
Valentini, Carlo (1790-1853)

Personnel:
Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano
Orchestre de l’Opéra National de Lyon
Riccardo Minasi, conductor

Download:

mqs.link_JyceDiDnatrchestredelpraNatinaldeLynRiccardMinasiStelladiNapli20142496.part1.rar
mqs.link_JyceDiDnatrchestredelpraNatinaldeLynRiccardMinasiStelladiNapli20142496.part2.rar