Stutzmann Nathalie: Contralto - CD

It's hard to believe that it's been thirty years since the Erato label released the complete recording of Handel's opera "Amadigi di Gaula" with the baroque orchestra Les musiciens du Louvere, conducted by Marc Minkowski, and contralto Nathalie Stutzmann in the title role. It must have been clear to every discerning listener even then that this was an exceptional voice with a completely unmistakable colour. Her contralto has such a specific, distinctly androgynous character that it almost predestines its owner to interpret male roles or very distinctive female characters. Listening to her new album, simply titled "Contralto", we can be pleased to note that those thirty years have left almost no mark on her voice and that it is still in excellent condition. She intended her project primarily as a tribute to some of her significant contralto predecessors, who inspired many famous opera composers (Handel, Vivaldi, Porpora, Bononcini, Caldara, Gasparini) in the first decades of the 18th century. As was common at the time, they sang both female and male roles. In this context, Nathalie Stutzmann reminds us of an important and often overlooked fact today: that (especially deep) female voices were perceived in the first half of the 18th century as the only full-fledged alternative to castrati (unlike countertenors with their limiting falsetto technique). Finally, I would also like to mention that on this album she appears not only as a soloist but also as the conductor of the baroque ensemble Orfeo 55, which she founded herself twelve years ago.

Nathalie Stutzmann / Orfeo 55

Tracklist

CD 1
Tamerlano, HWV 18, Act I: „ Dal crudel che m' ha tradita” (Irene) George Frideric Handel - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Meride e Selinunte, Act II: „ Torbido intorno al core” (Ericlea) Nicola Porpora - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Ariodante, HWV 33: Overture to Act II George Frideric Handel - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Rinaldo, HWV 7b, Act II: „ Mio cor, che mi sai dir? ” (Goffredo) George Frideric Handel - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Tito Manlio, RV 738, Act I: „ Di verde ulivo” (Vitellia) Antonio Vivaldi - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Farnace, RV 711, Act II: „ Gelido in ogni vena” (Farnace) Antonio Vivaldi - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Berenice, HWV 38: Sinfonia to Act III George Frideric Handel - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Semiramide riconosciuta, Act II: „ Tradita, sprezzata” (Semiramide) Nicola Porpora - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Griselda, Act II: „ Caro addio, dal labbro amato” (Griselda) Giovanni Bononcini - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Alessandro Severo: Sinfonia to Act III Antonio Lotti - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Arminio, HWV 36, Act I: „ Sento il cor per ogni lato” (Ramise) George Frideric Handel - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Euristeo, Act III: „ Sotto un faggio o lungo un rio” (Erginda) Antonio Caldara - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Bajazet, RV 703, Act III: „ E morto, si, tiranno. ” (Asteria) Antonio Vivaldi - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Bajazet, RV 703, Act III: „ Svena, uccidi, abbatti, atterra” (Asteria) Antonio Vivaldi - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Statira, Act I: „ Mira d' entrambi il ciglio” (Statira) Nicola Porpora - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Amadigi di Gaula, HWV 11: Overture - II. Gavotta George Frideric Handel - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55b / La fede tradita e vendicata, Act II: „ Empia mano” (Ernelinda) Francesco Gasparini - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Sosarme, re di Media, HWV 30, Act II: „ Vado, vado al campo” (Erenice) George Frideric Handel - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / L' incoronazione di Dario, RV 719, Sinfonia: I. Allegro Antonio Vivaldi - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / L' incoronazione di Dario, RV 719, Sinfonia: II. Andante e pianissimo Antonio Vivaldi - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / L' incoronazione di Dario, RV 719, Sinfonia: III. Presto Antonio Vivaldi - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Ginevra principessa di Scozia, RV 716, Act II: „ Degli Elisi dal soggiorno” (Lurcanio) Antonio Vivaldi - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Alessandro Severo: Sinfonia - I. Allegro Antonio Lotti - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Alessandro Severo: Sinfonia - II. - Antonio Lotti - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Alessandro Severo: Sinfonia - III. Presto Antonio Lotti - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Berenice, HWV 38: Overture - III. Andante larghetto George Frideric Handel - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55 / Rinaldo, HWV 7b, Act III: „ Sorge nel petto” (Goffredo) George Frideric Handel - Nathalie Stutzmann & Orfeo 55