Track Listing

1. "Da tempeste il legno infranto"
2. "Lascia ch'io pianga"
3. Tornami a vagheggiar
4. Dolce riposo
5. Ira, sdegni...O stringerò nel sen
6. Aria: "Felicissima quest'alma"
7. "Il mio crudel martoro"
8. Vo' far guerra
9. Ah! Spietato!
10. Myself I shall adore
11. "Piangerò la sorte mia"
12. Endless pleasure...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31642 in Music
• Released on: 2008-05-12
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds
• Running time: 72 minutes

Customer Reviews

Opera therapy

Australian born (1980) American soprano Danielle de Niese has been singing opera since she turned professional at the age of 15. At age 19 she played Barbarina in `Le Nozze di Figaro' with Renee Fleming, Cecilia Bartoli and Bryn Terfel, and she played the title role in Ravel's `L'Enfant et les Sortileges' as well as appearing in the Puccini operas `Gianni Schicchi' as Lauretta and `Falstaff' as Nannetta.

It was after her portrayal of Cleopatra in Handel's `Giulio Cesare in Egitto' at the 2005 Glyndebourne Festival though that she started to find international fame. She appeared in Rameau's `Les Indes Galantes', Gluck's `Orfeo ed Euridice', played roles of Poppea in Monteverdi's `L'incoronazione di Poppea' and Despina in Mozart's `Cose fan tutte' to name just some. This impressive background should help prevent her name appearing in the continuing `she is not an opera singer' debate.

This debut solo CD is a collection of Handel arias, including her Cleopatra role in Giulio Cesare, and the baroque style gives her a chance to put her personality into the music and make it her own. To hear Danielle's passionate style of singing is to experience only part of her exciting and individual style. Describing her as `a performer of charismatic good looks and stage presence' (Opera News) I think is a conservative understatement. Better words which have been used are `sexy, saucy, seductive and sassy' and the excellent album sleeve notes by Roger Pines sum up her personality perfectly:

`Danielle de Niese creates electricity the moment she steps on stage. It's impossible to ignore her stunning face and figure, physical grace, and total assurance as an actress...her shimmering lyric soprano projects an irresistible sparkle, a palpable joy in performing'.

(She also played the leading role - singing 'Vide Cor Meum' - in the short but chillingy sublime opera scene in the 2001 film 'Hannibal'. Once seen and heard, never forgotten.)

The 36 page CD booklet also provides notes on William Christie's baroque ensemble `Les Arts Florissants' (including players names) and translations to English of the works libretti, and to complete the package there's some absolutely gorgeous pictures of Danielle.

A wonderful debut album by a hugely entertaining opera singer.

Good debut from Glyndebourne star.
Danielle de Niese cements her growing reputation in the operatic world with this collection of arias from Handel's operas.

It is perhaps no surprise that the 27-year old singer, best known for her show-stealing performance in David McVicar's 2005 production of Giulio Cesare at Glyndebourne (available on an excellent DVD that I can highly recommend), chose material either from or very similar to her current operatic repertoire for her debut disc.

Wisely, she was also able to secure the services of William Christie, conductor of that famous Glyndebourne performance, to assist her. On this disc William conducts the "Les Arts Florissants" orchestra with some aplomb.

The result is a very good CD which I would say is better musically than vocally.

As a stage performer Danielle takes some beating as her talent for dance movement and acting can raise an operatic performance to a very high level. On this studio CD she is more exposed. Whilst her performance is in general vivacious and colourful, I feel that her soprano tone is occasionally harsh and unable to eke out all of the emotion inherent in the music. Also, on some of the quieter arias her aspiration provides a slight distraction.

Churlish criticisms perhaps, but there is excellent competition in the market for discs of Handel arias (for instance, the late mezzo Hunt-Lieberson's CD with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is pure joy), so I think I have to adjust the star rating accordingly.

Nevertheless, a fine debut from an excellent young artist.

A fantastic debut
This is a very good debut recording from an upcoming soprano. Being a big admirer of Baroque and Handel my expectations were rather high, and it isn't quite as good as the recordings of Ruth Ann Swenson or Magdalena Kozena, but she is still a force to be reckoned with. Although the voice isn't quite as securely agile in this repertoire, she is very good at investing each aria with individuality and character. Still a very enjoyable recording and after having fallen in love with her as Cleopatra I'm looking forward to hearing more from her.