Philippe Jaroussky - Carestini (The Story of a Castrato)

Encounters with beautiful sounds begins with this counter-tenor!!!

This is the recent happenings in a Chinese website - Handel's "Lascia Ch'io Pianga" from Rinaldo as 'amalgamated' in the soundtrack for the film 'Farinella Il Castrato' as highlighted in a discussion of the best voice and singing. Apart from the soundtrack, performances by Brightman (Sarah), Sissel, Izzy (Isobel Cooper), Gheorghiu (Angela), Scotto (Renata) and Bartoli (Cecilia) plus Hayley Westerner and Charlotte Church were being compared, but none carried the day until Philippe Jaroussky appeared with the aria - when unamimous approval was granted to this 'super belcanto' exponent's performance as being the BEST of the best.
The present disc carried 4 arias from Handel's two operas Alcina and Ariodante, and really, in my view, represent the best of Jaroussky's artistry, though the rest of the ablum are nonetheless superlative performances.
It seems that Jaroussky's voice has a striking power of affectation that carries Handel's music to the greatest effect, and in my view again, much better than Vivaldi's.
The timbre is very sweet and very full, and the singer is fully capable of employing it in a manner that dwells beyond what is purely superficial.
Of course, one should not, at this stage, be tempted to conclude that young Jaroussky has the striking emotional depth of Lorraine Hunt Lieberson in Handel. But even so, the voice carries sufficient degree of musicality to convey the composer's meanings and nuances to a high degree of fidelity.
By no means miss this outstanding album from one of today's brightest classical vocal talents. June 13, 2008

Astonishing Fluency

If fluency is the ability to speak or write a given language well, then Philippe Jaroussky is fluent in the language of the Baroque opera and proves to be an excellent translator for the rest of us. Here are a dozen tracks of some of the most difficult vocal music ever written brought back to ravishing life by the exciting combination of Jaroussky under the direction of Emmanuelle Haim. The orchestration is creamy; the voice delicate and agile. The composers range from luminaries like Handel to lesser knowns like Graun. This is a must for serious countertenor fanatics and for Baroque connoiseurs. Highly recommended. April 1, 2008

Pure Magic

What is there to say....just close your eyes and indulge yourself in this wonderful music.The breathtaking control,tone,colour and pure agility of Phillipe Jaroussky's voice carries you off into another world. If you don't already have this disc and also "Vivald's Heroes" then your collection of Baroque music is lacking. Look forward to his next recording. March 8, 2008

Carestini, the story of a castrato - Jaroussky and Haïm

Carestini was Farinelli's main rival. This album collects 12 arias from 7 different composers, all written for Carestini. The sonics, singing and orchestral accompaniment are superb. Jaroussky's voice sounds even higher than some mezzos who sing the Handel arias. There are no orchestral-only tracks to break monotony - there IS no monotony. The choice of arias, slow and fast, ensures that the CD can be listened to in one sitting without any problem. I own many versions of "Scherza infida" and "Sta nell'Ircana" and can say that Jaroussky sings the A section repeats for absolutely all they are worth. His lack of restraint here might not endear him to purists, but it's definitely exciting. If you love Jaroussky and don't own this CD yet - what are you waiting for ? March 7, 2008

One of two matching gems

If there is any possibility of finding two pink pearls it is the pair of recordings of Philippe Jaroussky for Virgin Classics (The Story of a castrato/Vivaldi Heroes).
Shining examples of the rare but alive art of countertenors, Jaroussky shows himself as a master, with such a refined singing that is possible to say that we have the best of countertenor: a superb singer with -thank God- not castration.
I find difficult to review one CD without the other, so this is a double recommendation. Under conducting of Emmanuelle Haïm (The Story...) and Jean-Christophe Spinosi (Heroes), Jaroussky validates an extravagant and uncommon -in modern terms- singing.
Pure gold. March 2, 2008

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