Rolando Villazón - Treasures of Bel Canto (CD)

Tenor Rolando Villazón presents a recital of 18th-century Italian songs by Bellini, Donizetti, Rossini and Verdi.

Most of the songs were written for voice and piano, but Villazón has commissioned orchestrations. According to the tenor, “The songs were asking to be orchestrated. I could hear the orchestra in my head as I sang them.”

Villazón is joined by star mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli for one selection and Marco Armiliato conducts the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.

Track Listing

1.Ma rendi pur contento
2.Malinconia, ninfa gentile
3.Vaga luna, che inargenti
4.Torna, vezzosa Fillide
5.Deh, pietoso, o Addolorata
6.Non t'accostare all'urna
7.Il poveretto
8.Il mistero
9.L'amor funesto
10.Una lagrima (Preghiera)
11.Il sospiro
12.La Mère et l'Enfant
13.L'esule
14.La danza (Già la luna è in mezzo al mare)
15.La lontananza
16.Tirana pour deux voix (Les amants de Séville)