Presto Recordings of the Year, Porpora (composer)

His technical strengths emerge clearly in the way in which he negotiates the switchback turns of Vivaldi’s ‘Cada pur sul capo’ (from Artabano), the cascading melodies of Porpora’s ‘Nocchier,... — BBC Music Magazine, July 2023, 4 out of 5 starsMore…

Stutzmann’s deep burgundy contralto, like a freakishly rich, wide-ranging countertenor, is the perfect fit for this repertoire...[Her] characterisation and vocal colouring are always true and... — Gramophone Magazine, March 2021More…

There are three absolute gems here: 'Quando s'oscura is cielo' (Carlo il Calvo, Rome, 1738), with its ambiguous tonality, the gentle flute-inflected pastoral siciliana 'Ove l'erbetta', a love... — Opera, June 2018More…

Bartoli and cellist Sol Gabetta make for valiant duelling partners who converse, parry and riposte in spirited combat. Bartoli is velvet-toned, vivacious and voluptuous as ever. Her diction... — BBC Music Magazine, February 2018, 5 out of 5 starsMore…

Fagioli forges his own powerful execution out of practices that Porpora helped invent. Ornaments of fiendish length, tempo and range spur Fagioli onto ever-greater displays, racing ahead of... — BBC Music Magazine, March 2015, 4 out of 5 starsMore…

The only relatively familiar piece is Vivaldi’s Stabat mater...In the other pieces, Scholl sings with a grave beauty, with impeccable intonation and no changes of gear. — Gramophone Magazine, June 2024More…

There is much coloratura and here, as elsewhere, Anna Bonitatibus is spot-on...This set, sumptuously illustrated, is an absolute must-have. — Gramophone Magazine, September 2014More…