Donizetti Songs Volumes 3 and 4 Reviewed

Opera Rara’s recording project, spanning a total of eight albums, is truly extraordinary – the words from one of our first reviews of our latest installment of our Donizetti Song Project recording cycle: Volumes 3 and 4 released in February with our Artistic Director Carlo Rizzi on the piano and our Artist Ambassador tenor Michael Spyres, and mezzo-soprano Marie-Nicole Lemieux and pianist Giulio Zappa.

Sample a selection of the reviews below and head over to this page here to find out how you can purchase the two albums: https://opera-rara.com/product-category/default-category/donizetti-songs-project

Opera Rara’s recording project, spanning a total of eight albums, is truly extraordinary… Another fascinating aspect is how Michael Spyres, now established as a Wagnerian singer handles this primarily lyrical repertoire. The result is astonishing: Spyres, with his highly agile and uniquely wide-ranging tenor voice, unveils an inexhaustible array of elegant phrasing, breathtaking messa di voce, and seamless legato lines. Combined with his natural temperament, he once again demonstrates his exceptional sensitivity to vocal colour, subtle poetic interpretation, dynamic nuance, and a seamlessly robust vocal approach—qualities that have made him so renowned. Online Merker

Written for various reasons—commissions, tributes, or artistic collaborations – these melodies cover a wide range of emotions, all marked by theatricality, elegance, and an effortless musicality that makes them instantly captivating… This third volume also offers a rare opportunity to hear Michael Spyres in the romantic repertoire, where he remains unrivalled. The American tenor once again demonstrates his deep understanding of the bel canto style and his mastery of the French language, delivering each prosodic nuance with clarity that makes every word intelligible. Forum Opéra

This romantic repertoire suits Marie-Nicole Lemieux [in Volume 4] perfectly. She skilfully balances the intimate moments with the theatrical passages, thanks in part to the assertive pianist. Compared to the masterpieces of Schubert and Schumann, the songs of the maestro from Bergamo are often more sensual, charming, and exuberant, though at times more stereotypically tailored for the salon. However, they always allow the voice to shine beautifully, while the piano part remains equally rewarding… The beautifully illustrated 64-page booklet also leaves nothing to be desired. I am already looking forward to the second half of this enchanting song collection. Der Gelderlander

These two new releases from Opera Rara continue to uncover Donizettian wonders in the hands of two talented performers… Spyres displays a lyrical timbre full of nuance and comfort in the high and middle registers… [In O ma harpe, mon seul heritage] he transports us to that salon atmosphere, demonstrating his liederistic qualities accompanied by Rizzi who is an indispensable co-performer… Lemieux and Zappa form a well-connected duo whose fluidity together from the exposition of their Volume leaves the listening wanting more music by the end. Opéra Actual