One of the finest recordings of opera music I have ever heard is a relatively recent release titled "Arias for Farinelli", featuring arias that were performed by Carlo Farinelli (1705-1782), a castrato virtuoso. The arias are sung by Vivica Genaux, who has an extraordinarty coloratura mezzo-soprano voice, with accompaniment by the Akademie fur Alte Musik (of Berlin). The recording is on the Harmonia Mundi label, and is available in both CD format (HMC-901778) and SACD format (HMC-801778).
A number of my friends who are not opera buffs have raved about the recording (several even asked me to make CD copies), and after many listenings I still find it thrilling.
A number of my friends who are not opera buffs have raved about the recording (several even asked me to make CD copies), and after many listenings I still find it thrilling.