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“…Diana Damrau, perhaps the leading coloratura soprano in the world right now […] her instrument is sizeable, sensuous, and penetrating. She sang wondrously, sinuously, exhibiting her uncanny technical control. What’s more, she’s a fine actress – one who knows that the voice does much of the acting.” The New York Sun
When Virgin Classics announced its signing of an exclusive recording contract with German soprano Diana Damrau, the press was all ears as to the announcement and the repertoire which will inaugurate the contract. To quote BBC Music Magazine: “New Queen for Virgin Classics – Much admired by both critics and opera fans (to judge by postings on YouTube) for her coloratura singing, notably as Queen of the Night at Covent Garden in 2005 and the Salzburg Festival last year, her first album on Virgin Classics is to be a recital of arias by Mozart, Salieri and their near-contemporary, the Italian composer Righini.”
Alain Lanceron, President of Virgin Classics says of Diana Damrau “In just a few years, she has risen in stature to become one of the small circle of singers who define the modern history of opera performance. Virgin Classics is proud to welcome her to a roster already so rich in vocal talent.”
The recording programme brings together extremely popular opera arias by Mozart (the Queen of the Night) with rarities by lesser-known composers, such as Salieri and Righini. By resuscitating the latter, the disc allows us to rediscover the art of singing at the time of Mozart.
