Cimarosa: Overtures · 2

"The recording is almost uniformly excellent....Admirably recorded in an ambience to die for, these are spirited performances." --MusicWeb International, March 2008

. . .Cimarosa's music has an immediate appeal, and this is—to a great degree—because of its sparkle, not to mention its unfailing Italianate lyricism. ...Regardless of the schematic or character of the overture, Cimarosa's music never fails when it comes to capturing and holding the attention of the listener. Cimarosa knew the orchestra and its instruments, and this is apparent throughout the run of this CD.

A similar disc, but with different contents and spotlighting Alessandro Amoretti and the Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia, was released on Marco Polo, later deleted and reissued as Naxos 8.570508. This disc from December of last year with Kevin Mallon and his Toronto compatriots is the second in the projected cycle, and holds rewarding interpretations that summon respect for the composer as well as admiration for the performers. With Mallon in charge, the music exudes a freshness that is a welcome surprise and that further commends these poised and erudite readings. Vigor, affection, and commitment abound here, and the music-lover unfamiliar with Cimarosa's music should take the first opportunity to pounce on this release! --Fanfare, August 2008

MP3 320 · 146 MB

Domenico Cimarosa: Overtures

Domenico Cimarosa was the most famous and popular Italian composer of the second half of the eighteenth century. In the course of a brilliantly successful career he composed more than 65 operas, as well as a significant body of instrumental music and works for the church. His operas were performed all over Europe, both in Italian and in translation. A number of Cimarosa’s operas continued to enjoy occasional stagings during the nineteenth century, and his most famous work, Il matrimonio segreto, is one of only a handful of operas of the period never to have left the repertory. Cimarosa’s overtures are remarkable for their melodic invention, assured handling of the orchestra and sheer vitality.

The sound is clean and wide, with moderate depth. It is a pleasant, easy-listening sound of a kind that might be heard from a reasonably close distance in a medium-sized concert hall. It also has good body and vigorous dynamics…it is certainly a strong consideration on this budget-conscious Naxos reissue. I just wish there was more variety to the music… --Classical Candor, July 2010

MP3 320 · 148 MB

Arias by Cimarosa, Haydn, Mozart and Salieri

BBC Music Magazine: Opera Choice - January 2012

“Reiss is a properly pert Despina (Cosi) and an affecting Susanna...Her attention to detail in the recitative is scrupulous...Reiss's diamond bright coloratura is a mighty weapon...All told, this is a beguiling combination of top-drawer musicianship and fresh ideas about opera in Enlightenment Vienna.” --BBC Music Magazine, January 2012 *****

“What a stimulating assemblage of arias, and in intelligent, standard-setting performances...Unexpected insights arrives at every turn...Reiss makes [Salieri and Cimarosa] feel like worthy companions, always looking to find their specific character and never falling into soubrette cuteness...My favourite moment is how wonderstruck her Susanna sounds while absorbing the beauties of the night in the Act 4 Figaro aria.” Gramophone Magazine, November 2011

“Reiss has an agile, bell-bright, fluty timbre that's well suited to the soubrette and coloratura repertoire here. She's best in the showy numbers - the glittering roulades of the Mozart concert aria 'Ah se in ciel' and Salieri's 'Tremo bell'idol mio' are bright and fresh. She also displays a lovely line in the short, sweet 'Quando la rosa'” Classic FM Magazine, December 2011 ***

MP3 320 · 122 MB