CECILIA Bartoli made this daring recital of Early Music as exciting and accessible as if it had just been written.
Her amazing flexibility of voice, perfect intonation and delightful stage persona breathed new life into the Red Priest.
She is known for the detailed research she puts in to her performances, but there was nothing stuffy or academic about this fantastically gifted diva.
Handel's 'Lascia la spina' (Leave the thorn), first performed in 1711, was exquisite, bringing tears to the eyes, so beautiful and expressive was her performance.
This contrasted fabulously with Bartoli's famous machine-gun coloratura brilliance in Vivaldi's tempestuous work 'Anch'il mar par che sommerga' (The sea too seems to be sinking)
Handel's cantata 'Armida Abbandonata' tells of Armida's abandonment by her faithless lover.
Bartoli portrayed the passion and loss of love, the thirst for revenge and the torments of betrayal. It was sensational as she held the audience like a little bird in the hollow of her hand.
Her generosity on stage towards the young musicians of her accompanying ensemble Le Musiche Nove showed why she is loved by audiences worldwide.
She conveyed the sheer joy of singing, holding nothing back, as her five encores testify. Brava Bartoli!
CECILIA BARTOLI, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
BRENDA KEAN
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