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Rossini: Amici e Rivali
Michael Spyres (tenor), Lawrence Brownlee (tenor), I Virtuosi Italiani, Corrado Rovaris
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 13th November 2020
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Opera, January 2021, Disc of the Month
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Winner 2020
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Record Review, 12th December 2020, Record of the Week
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Gramophone Magazine, January 2021, Editor's Choice
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Gramophone Awards, 2021, Shortlisted - Voice & Ensemble
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International Classical Music Awards, 2022, Nominated - Vocal
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Diapason d’Or de l’Année, 2021, Récital lyrique
Lawrence Brownlee takes the higher parts. Airy and buoyant in his top register, he can negotiate all the notes with ease. Michael Spyres is equally stylish, though there are a couple of moments...
Rossini: Amici e Rivali
Michael Spyres (tenor), Lawrence Brownlee (tenor), I Virtuosi Italiani, Corrado Rovaris
Purchase product
Awards:
-
Presto Recording of the Week, 13th November 2020
-
Opera, January 2021, Disc of the Month
-
Presto Recordings of the Year, Winner 2020
-
Record Review, 12th December 2020, Record of the Week
-
Gramophone Magazine, January 2021, Editor's Choice
-
Gramophone Awards, 2021, Shortlisted - Voice & Ensemble
-
International Classical Music Awards, 2022, Nominated - Vocal
-
Diapason d’Or de l’Année, 2021, Récital lyrique
Lawrence Brownlee takes the higher parts. Airy and buoyant in his top register, he can negotiate all the notes with ease. Michael Spyres is equally stylish, though there are a couple of moments...
About
Two of today’s most brilliant tenors, Michael Spyres and Lawrence Brownlee, strike sparks off each other as they celebrate the star tenors of Rossini’s time, such as Andrea Nozzari, Giovanni David, and Manuel García. Amici e Rivali – ‘Friends and Rivals’ – comprises arias, duets and trios from seven of the composer’s operas, including the ever-popular Il barbiere di Siviglia and the rarely heard Ricciardo e Zoraide. The ‘duelling tenors’ are joined by the effervescent Irish mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught, the prize-winning young Spanish tenor Xabier Anduaga, I Virtuosi Italiani and conductor Corrado Rovaris.
Contents and tracklist
Spotlight on this release
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Amici e Rivali - Michael Spyres and Lawrence Brownlee
13th Nov 2020
The two American tenors trade vocal fireworks in a thrilling all-Rossini programme which pays homage to Andrea Nozzari and Giovanni David, who created major roles in several of the composer's operas for Naples.
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Lawrence Brownlee on Rossini
13th Nov 2020
The American tenor talks to Katherine about today's Recording of the Week Amici e Rivali, which sees him exploring friendship and rivalry in Rossini's Neapolitan operas with his compatriot Michael Spyres.
Awards and reviews
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Presto Recording of the Week13th November 2020
-
OperaJanuary 2021Disc of the Month
-
Presto Recordings of the YearWinner 2020
-
Record Review12th December 2020Record of the Week
-
Gramophone MagazineJanuary 2021Editor's Choice
-
International Classical Music Awards2022Nominated - Vocal
-
Diapason d’Or de l’Année2021Récital lyrique
February 2021
Lawrence Brownlee takes the higher parts. Airy and buoyant in his top register, he can negotiate all the notes with ease. Michael Spyres is equally stylish, though there are a couple of moments when he’s less than ideally fluent…With plenty of forward drive under Corrado Rovaris, the periodinstrument orchestra is neat, accurate and light-textured.
January 2021
Their voices contrast very well. Brownlee’s tenor fits the Giovanni David mould, light and flexible with glistening brilliance in his upper register. Spyres, with his darker, baritonal tenor, suits the Nozzari roles, powerful and weighty, but with top notes that can really zing...With I Virtuosi Italiani offering sterling support under Corrado Rovaris, this is a must-have disc for discerning fans of vocal fireworks.
January 2021
I’ve found myself hard put to think of a parallel achievement in singer-recital recordings, certainly of recent times. The performances combine front-rank vocal virtuosity with dedicated artistry, serious purpose with showbiz flair; the selection of works, but also the full-hearted participation of a first-rate conductor and chamber orchestra, plus a ‘supporting cast’ of real distinction.
13th November 2020
If the spark between David and Nozzari was anywhere near as electrifying as the frisson which the two Americans generate here it’s small wonder that the composer quickly realised he was onto a good thing...the sheer delight and inspiration which the two singers find in one another’s artistry shines through even in the more sombre excerpts from works like Otello and Le Siège de Corinthe.
1st November 2020
This is impressive: two superb Rossinians in music written for the virtuoso tenors David and Nozzari in the composer’s nine Neapolitan operas from the 1810s. Brownlee has a brighter tone than Spyres, who sings Figaro in the Barber of Seville duet, but the latter shines in the darker French Rossini.
