Ann Hallenberg, Les Talens Lyriques & Christophe Rousset - Farinelli (2016)

With more than a million copies sold, the soundtrack of Gérard Corbiau's film 'Farinelli' contributed considerably to the international renown of Les Talens Lyriques, in 1994. Back then the voice of the castrato Carlo Broschi, known as Farinelli (1705-1782), was created using a computer to mix the voices of countertenor Derek Lee Ragin and soprano Ewa Mallas-Godlewska. On stage, in 2011, rather than a falsettist, world-renowned mezzo Ann Hallenberg,was chosen by Christophe Rousset to portray the first rock star in the history of music. 'The magic of the film came about thanks to a gripping human story, reinforced by music that was equally gripping,' resumes Christophe Rousset, music director and conductor of the production. The idea for this programme, recorded in concert in Bergen, was to mix the emblematic arias of the film with other works from Farinelli's repertoire and relate the two periods of his career: the first, virtuosic and flamboyant, where the character accumulated as many ducats as vocalises; and a second, melancholic, introverted and sensitive. The libretto relates the exciting life of the infamous castrato, crisscrossing Europe on concert tours, giving performances acclaimed by royalty and an adoring public alike.

Tracklist:

01. Artasere, Act III, Scene 1: Aria "Son qual nave ch'agitata" (Arbace) - Ann Hallenberg, Les Talens Lyriques and Christophe Rousset
02. Idaspe, Act II, Scene 11: Aria "Ombra fedele anch' io" (Dario) - Ann Hallenberg, Christophe Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques
03. Adriano in Siria, Act I, Scene 2: Aria "Già presso al termine" (Farnaspe) - Ann Hallenberg, Les Talens Lyriques and Christophe Rousset
04. Semiramide riconosciuta, Act II, Scene 5: Aria "Si pietoso il tuo labro" (Mirteo) - Ann Hallenberg, Christophe Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques
05. Polifemo, HelN 31, Act I: Alto Giove (Acio) - Ann Hallenberg, Les Talens Lyriques and Christophe Rousset
06. Adriano in Siria, Act II, scene 7: Aria "Passagier che incerto" (Farnaspe) - Ann Hallenberg, Christophe Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques
07. Cleofide, Act I: Ouverture - Ann Hallenberg, Les Talens Lyriques and Christophe Rousset
08. Catone in Utica, Act I, Scene 7: Aria "Che legge spietata" (Arbace) - Ann Hallenberg, Les Talens Lyriques and Christophe Rousset
09. Catone in Utica, Act I: Aria "Cervo in bosco" (Arbace) - Ann Hallenberg, Les Talens Lyriques and Christophe Rousset
10. Alcina, HWV 34, Act III: Aria "Sta nell'Ircana" (Ruggiero) - Ann Hallenberg, Christophe Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques
11. Rinaldo, HWV 7a, Act II: Aria "Lascia ch'io pianga" (Almirena) - Ann Hallenberg, Les Talens Lyriques and Christophe Rousset
12. Semiramide riconosciuta, Act III, Scene 4: Aria "In braccio a mille furie" (Mirteo) - Ann Hallenberg, Les Talens Lyriques and Christophe Rousset