Songs For Soprano And Guitar (CD)

1. 12 Ariettas: III. Languir d'amore2. 12 Ariettas: V. Ecco quel fiero istante3. 12 Ariettas: IX. Non v'e piu barbaro4. 12 Ariettas: II. Dove rivolgo, oh Dio?5. 12 Ariettas: VIII. Numi, se giusti siete6. 12 Ariettas: XI. Per valli, per boschi7. 12 Ariettas: XII. Se spiegar potessi appieno8. 12 Ariettas: IV. Oh teneri pensieri9. 12 Ariettas: I. Tu mi chiedi, oh mio tesoro10. 12 Ariettas: VI. Dal di ch'io vi ammirai11. 12 Ariettas: X. Ch'io mai vi possa12. 12 Ariettas: VII. Clori, la pastorella13. 12 Valzer, Op. 57: No. 1 in A Minor 14. 12 Valzer, Op. 57: No. 6 in E Major15. Six Ariettas, Op. 95: I. Ombre amene16. Six Ariettas, Op. 95: II. Fra tutte le pene17. Six Ariettas, Op. 95: III. Quando sara quel di18. Six Ariettas, Op. 95: IV. Le dimore amor non ama19. Six Ariettas, Op. 95: V. Ad altro laccio20. Six Ariettas, Op. 95: VI. Di due bell'animeToday's concept of bel canto is founded primarily on the beautiful melodies of the brilliant virtuoso opera arias of La sonnambula, L'elisir d'amore etc; this recording aims to challenge the listener's understanding of this term by introducing another, much lesser-known facet: that of chamber bel canto, or bel canto da camera. Ariettas by two Italian 19th-century composers Mauro Giuliani and Girolamo Crescentini are thus included, and while neither of these names are normally counted among the 'bel canto' greats, such as the opera-centric Bellini and Donizetti, both composers' chamber works in fact reveals the "subtlety of the human soul much more deeply," argue the artists, "than in the brightest operas arias."Crescentini was at one point employed as a Singing Master to Napoleon's family, and in his day Giuliani was counted among the greatest virtuoso guitarists of his generation, reaching the height of his performing-composing career in Vienna during the early 1800s. At hand to perform each composer's works is soprano 'sfogato' Veronica Amarres - a graduate of St Petersburg Conservatory whose competition successes include