Nuria Rial & Artemandoline - Venice's Fragrance (2020) [Hi-Res]

Already the first joint album of the Catalan soprano Nuria Rial with the Luxembourg-based ensemble Artemandoline received fantastic reviews: "This is far more than just the serenade that is presented to the adored as stage music. There are also extremely virtuoso examples in which the mandolin, as an obligatory instrument, is demanded everything (...) The strings and Nuria Rial perfectly complement the plucked instrument in its articulation (Concerti) "Arias in connection with mandolin music; a beautiful, original idea, which thematically carries over an entire album. Nuria Rial remains true to herself. [...] The fresh, girlish voice remains attractive." (rbb Kulturradio)

On their new album, Nuria Rial and Artemandoline under the direction of Juan Carlos Muñoz present "musical delicacies" (toccata) this time from 18th century Venice. All arias on the album are world premiere recordings. In 18th century Venice, playing the mandolin developed to the highest perfection and sounded as an integral part of a baroque ensemble in operas, oratorios and cantatas. Between 1690 and 1799 about 200 arias were written with the mandolin. "Venice's Fragrance" brings these precious arias for soprano, mandolin and string instruments to new life

Arias from operas and oratorios by composers working in Venice were selected: Baldassare Galuppi (1706-1785), Francesco Bartolomeo Conti (1681-1732), Gennaro Manna (1715-1779), Tommaso Traetta (1727-1779) and Antonio Lotti (1667-1740). There are also two mandolin concertos by Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) and a sonata for mandolin and violin by Carlo Arrigoni (1697-1744). The recordings are enchanting with their ingenuity, refinement and above all with their engaging melodies - "which are presented to us here by a brilliant singer and an inspired and rousing orchestra (toccata)