Art of Cecilia Bartoli (Dig)

All but two pieces are taken from Bartoli's Decca discography but this is not just a "greatest hits" album--it lives up to its title and really does demonstrate the mezzo's "art". The disc opens with "Lascia ch'io pianga" from Handel's opera Rinaldo which demonstrates how Bartoli can bring the simplest of melodies to life. An extract from Vivaldi's Farnace reveals the heartstopping intensity of the Bartoli pianissimo while the Rossini arias allow the listener to revel in her glorious coloratura.

As well as the arias, there are plenty of opportunities to hear Bartoli the collaborator in duets with three fabulous partners, namely David Daniels, Bryn Terfel (including a charged rendition of the Papageno/Papagena duet from The Magic Flute) and, on two previously unreleased tracks, Luciano Pavarotti. This is a great introduction to one of the leading singers of today. --Rebecca Agnew