Viva Vivaldi! is a concert by the Italian mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli interspersing arias from the 20 surviving operas of Vivaldi with two concertos. Given with the early music ensemble Il Giardino Armonico before a very appreciative audience in the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, the performance is part of Bartoli's exploration of the Venetian composer's opera music which also includes The Vivaldi Album. There is a startling dynamic energy, which contrasts powerfully with the more restrained interpretations by singers such as Emma Kirkby. Bartoli's natural Italian and the live atmosphere of Maria Grazia d'Alessio's oboe gives her interpretation of the quietly haunting and melodically rich "Non ti Lusinghi la Crudeltade" from Tito Manlio a particular piquancy. The Flautino Concerto is a most attractive interlude, while the more famous Lute/Violin Concerto beguiles with its exquisite lyricism.
Cecilia Bartoli
as Self - Mezzo-soprano
Giovanni Antonini
as Self - Conductor and Flautino Soloist
Enrico Onofri
as Self - Concert Master and Violin
Mario Bianchi
as Self - Violin
Luca Pianca
as Self - Lute
Maria Grazia d' Alessio
as Self - Oboe
Marco Scorticati
as Self - Flute
Alberto Guerra
as Self - Basson
Elena Russo
as Self - Cello
Ricardo Boni
as Self - Harpsichord
