Cecilia Bartoli

Unitel and Classica present

THE ART OF THE CASTRATI C eci l ia B arto l i THE ART OF THE CASTRATI C eci l ia B arto l i

Mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, one of the most successful classical artists of her time, is a passionate musical explorer who regularly uncovers thrilling but little-known chapters of music history. This time her in-depth research takes her on a fascinating expedition into the world of castrato singers. The legendary art of the castratos continues to exert a strong fascination today, and, despite the great human sacrifice it exacted, this extraordinary period justifies the new assessment that she delivers.

As Naples was the center of this flourishing “castrato factory”, Cecilia Bartoli selected works chiefly from the Neapolitan school for this program. They are some of the most difficult and virtuoso pieces ever written for the human voice. From bubbling fountains of coloratura to profoundly moving slow arias, these pieces were designed to showcase the extraordinary vocal abilities of the leading castrati. Only very few artists master such music today, and none as Orchestra Il Giardino Armonico electrifyingly as Cecilia Bartoli. Conducted by Giovanni Antonini Directed by Olivier Simonnet Bartoli presents the music in the palace of Caserta, near Naples, a world-heritage monument and the Length 43' and 60' largest palace in Italy. Her vocally breathtaking performance is accentuated by a visually spectacular A production of staging by video director Olivier Simonnet, which Universal Music Classical Management & Productions, features the singer as an androgynous character in UNITEL, IDEALE AUDIENCE the palace’s intimate 18th-century theater, striding in coproduction with ZDF, ARTE triumphantly up grand staircases or filling elegant in association with France Télévisions, DECCA drawing rooms with her presence. with the support of the FCM (Fonds pour la Création Musicale) The singer is accompanied by Italy’s foremost period- instrument ensemble Il Giardino Armonico under shot in HDTV 1080 its conductor Giovanni Antonini. Composed almost Cat. no.: A93500220 entirely of world-premiere recordings, this film is a genuine treasure chest of forgotten jewels of Baroque music. Giuseppe Migliaccio