Cecilia Bartoli Concert

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Image courtesy of Liceu Barcelona

The last traces of the presence of the great Cecilia Bartoli at the Gran Teatre del Liceu date back to the 1990-91 and 1993-94 seasons when she appeared in five performances of the opera Il barbiere di Siviglia and gave a recital accompanied by György Fischer. The wait has been far too long and it is with great satisfaction that Liceu welcomes Cecilia Bartoli back for a return visit.

The connection between Cecilia Bartoli and Les Musiciens du Prince is obvious on stage: the idea of founding this period instrument ensemble in 2016 was hers and she is its artistic director.

Bartoli prepares a new program for every performance because she enjoys developing her programs as much as she enjoys singing them. This one, dedicated to "Farinelli and his time," reveals a new facet of her ever-renewed talent, which she reveals on stage in the light-hearted manner we know so well.

That Carlo Broschi, better known as "Farinelli" (1705-1782), was a highly popular singer is shown by the wealth of wonderfully enthusiastic eye-witness accounts and tributes. A riding accident was apparently the reason used to justify his castration and he completed his studies with Porpora. Thus this archetype of the castrato, who was to give rise to countless artistic fantasies, was born. After triumphing in Munich and London, he became a legend at the court of Philip V of Spain. The King was passionately fond of Farinelli's voice, which was the only cure for his morbid melancholy, and every evening for nine years, according to the chroniclers, Farinelli had to sing the same five arias by Hasse, Ariosti and Giacomelli. In time he also became an important counselor to the king.

This fascinating tale was the starting point for the research that went into the program Cecilia Bartoli presents at the Liceu, in which she invites us to enjoy the acrobatics and depth, the intensity, subtlety and shades of meaning of her unforgettable voice.

For more music events check our online events calendar.