Cecilia Bartoli & Sol Gabetta – Dolce Duello (2017) [Qobuz FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

This is a gentle kind of duet, which sets up Cecilia Bartoli “opposite” cellist Sol Gabetta, if we can speak of “opposition”. The two stars chose a few airs out of the baroque repertoire where the composers have included a part for cello, and the two lines intertwine against the backdrop of the continuo or the orchestra. Albinoni, Caldara, Haendel and many others have often married the cello’s deep voice with the light, airy tones of the soprano in a game of mirrors, contrasts, and “he-loves-me-he-loves-me-not”… This highly original billing benefits not only from the duettists’ clear talents, but also the involvement of the Capella Gabetta led by the violinist Andrés Gabetta – to be sure, in the duets of old it wasn’t the done thing for other performers to get involved, but in this instance, it adds up to a perfect balance. It’s certainly not the end of the world – or of this duet! This album, highly original, is one of September’s nicest surprises.

Tracklist:
Antonio Caldara (1670 – 1736)
Nitocri
1 “Fortuna e speranza” 10:05
Tomaso Albinoni (1671 – 1751)
Il nascimento dell’Aurora
2 “Aure andate e baciate” 03:23
Domenico Gabrielli (1659 – 1690)
San Sigismondo, re di Borgogna
3 “Aure voi de’ miei sospiri” 06:44
Antonio Vivaldi (1678 – 1741)
Tito Manlio, RV 738 / Act 1
4 “Di verde olivo” 05:22
Georg Friedrich Händel (1685 – 1759)
Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day, HWV76
5 “What Passion Cannot Music Raise and Quell” 07:35
Antonio Caldara (1670 – 1736)
Gianguir
6 “Tanto e con sì gran pena” 06:28
Georg Friedrich Händel (1685 – 1759)
Arianna in Creta
7 “Son qual stanco pellegrino” 09:23
Nicolai Porpora (1686 – 1768)
Gli orti esperidi
8 “Giusto Amor tu che m’accendi” 05:30
Luigi Boccherini (1743 – 1805)
Cello Concerto In D Major Op. 34
9 1. Allegro e con moto 08:14
10 2. Andante lentarello 07:04
11 3. Allegro maestoso 06:58