The latest CD release reviewed

CECILIA BARTOLI: MARIA SCENAS & ARIAS
Celso Albelo (tenor), Luca Pisaroni (bass-baritone), Maxim Vengerov (violin). International Chamber Soloists. Orchestra La Scintilla. Conductor: Adam Fischer Decca 475 9078 ****

For some years now Cecilia Bartoli has been recording lesser-known arias from the 18th century. Here she moves into the early 19th to pay homage to its most famous and romantic diva, Maria Malibran (of whom Rossini said "she outshone all other women I have known". This disc contains arias associated with the legendary diva and comes in a lavish hardcover book with Maxim Vengerov providing some lovely violin obbligato. The content is somewhat variable, but the best of it is memorable - and the same goes for Bartoli's singing. She sings some tracks wonderfully, such as the great Mendelssohn concert aria, Infelice, written for Malibran), but relies on artifice in some of the lesser-known arias. This release is something of a mixed bag, but its best tracks are unforgettable. www.deccaclassics.com

Download Tracks: Infelice, Ah! Non Credea Mirarti, Qui La Voce