Aria's (Karina Gauvin) (2009)

Interview en overzichtsartikel over de soliste hier, de Canadese sopraan Karina Gauvin in Luister mei/juni 2011. Deze CD werd op ClassicsToday beoordeeld met een dubbele 9: "Nicola Porpora (1686-1768) was a Neapolitan composer who penned more than 50 operas. He was as well known for being the voice teacher of one of the greatest singers of the time (and arguably the finest castrato), Farinelli. Haydn was his apprentice; Metastasio was his frequent librettist. His operas are ideal examples of high Baroque, complete with absurdities and extraordinarily decorated vocal lines. He may not have been a "great" composer, but he was no slouch either; his operas were the toast of London, Vienna, Venice, and Naples, and the anti-Handel faction had its money on him to overthrow Handel. It didn't work. As mentioned, the music may not be a collection of masterpieces, but it gives immense pleasure; Porpora, to give the devil his absolute due, knew how to write for the voice, and Gauvin has quite the voice." (Robert Levine)