Notes and Editorial Reviews
Diana Damrau is almost a throwback to the "Golden Age" sopranos like Hempel, Tettrazzini, Galli-Curci, et al.; her voice sits very high and the listener never worries that she won't execute a trill or a florid run or a high note impeccably. Where she differs from those songbirds, however, is in her commitment to the music and text: She comes AC (after Callas) and cannot be happy just making spectacularly high sounds
à la Lily Pons or Roberta Peters. This is not to say that she would not be fascinating just resting on her technique, but she also creates a total character with each aria. While her Juliette and Gilda may not quite sound as girlish as some, we believe what her characters are saying and feeling. And then
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we hear her Zerbinetta — simply the most flavorful performance around, sung with sarcasm and sex appeal, not to mention high notes plucked out of the stratosphere as if it were the most natural thing. Her "Glitter and Be Gay" from
Candide has just as much "face": we know who this woman is. And a surprise is Anne Trulove's grand aria from
The Rake's Progress, lyrical yet full, with increasing determination as the aria comes to its conclusion.
-- Robert Levine, Listen
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Works on This Recording
2.
Rigoletto: Caro nome by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Diana Damrau (Soprano)
Conductor:
Dan Ettinger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Munich Radio Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1851; Italy
5.
Rake's Progress: No word from Tom by Igor Stravinsky
Performer:
Diana Damrau (Soprano)
Conductor:
Dan Ettinger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Munich Radio Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1948-1951; USA
6.
Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro by Giacomo Puccini
Performer:
Diana Damrau (Soprano)
Conductor:
Dan Ettinger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Munich Radio Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1918; Italy
7.
Un ballo in maschera: Volta la terrea by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Diana Damrau (Soprano)
Conductor:
Dan Ettinger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Munich Radio Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1859; Italy
10.
Hamlet: A vos jeux "Mad Scene" by Ambroise Thomas
Performer:
Diana Damrau (Soprano)
Conductor:
Dan Ettinger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Munich Radio Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1868; France
11.
Candide: Glitter and be gay by Leonard Bernstein
Performer:
Diana Damrau (Soprano)
Conductor:
Dan Ettinger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Munich Radio Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1956/1988; USA
Featured Sound Samples
Ariadne auf Naxos (Strauss): "Grossmächtige Prinzessin"
The Rake's Progress (Stravinsky): "No word from Tom"
Linda di Chamounix (Donizetti): "O luce di quest' anima"
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