Maria – sumptuous new Cecilia Bartoli release

Maria, the new Cecilia Bartoli project, is being marketed with an élan that almost matches the great Italian mezzo’s artistry. The release is packaged in a choice of three formats:

* simple CD in jewel case (£10-12)

* de luxe CD, with delightful digipak booklet (c£14)

* sumptuous large format package with the CD, DVD and a book of Bartoli’s Maria memorabilia (c£30).

The Maria being celebrated is not Callas, as you might reasonably expect, but Malibran, a rather obscure 19thC Spanish opera singer for whose art Bartoli has a very high regard.

The Maria release continues Bartoli’s programme of putting under-appreciated artists back before the public eye. Outstanding previous releases have successfully repositioned Gluck, Salieri and Vivaldi as great writers for voice.

Not content with being the world’s best mezzo, the divine Ms Bartoli is on a mission to teach an inattentive world about forgotten artists.

She’s one of Music for Grown-Ups’ favourite singers – in any genre. On the opera or concert stage, or on record, she’s one of the great voices of the age.

If you want to try just one opera singer, Cecilia Bartoli should be your first choice.

www.ceciliabartolionline.com



Gerry Smith