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She is not only one of the most sought-after opera singers of our time, a five-time Grammy winner, but also an aspiring artistic director. The legendary Italian mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli dedicated euronews to her creative plans, told what she lives in and what inspires her.
We met her from Florence, at the festival of academic music Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, where she sang the title role in the opera «Alcina» — a masterpiece of baroque music by Georg Friedrich Handel.In Valencia, Spain, we were lucky to attend a concert by her ensemble of authentic baroque instruments «Les Musiciens du Prince». On the Côte d'Azur, in Monaco, she appeared before us in her new role as director of the Monte Carlo Opera.
Being passionate about everything you do is the secret. The most important thing is vision and passion. Cecilia Bartoli opera singer
IN THE HOME OF OPERA
Florence is the cradle of the Renaissance and the birthplace of opera. «The earliest opera that has come down to us was written and performed here in Florence,» says Cecilia Bartoli. We are talking about the musical drama «Eurydice» by Jacopo Peri on the libretto by Ottavio Rinuccini, performed in 1600. Two years earlier, they also created «Daphne» based on «Metamorphoses» Ovid, the score of which was lost.
On the streets of Florence, Cecilia Bartoli was accompanied by her mother. Precisely Silvana Bazzoni Bartoliinstilled in her a passion for music. The future diva was always surrounded by music, both of her parents were opera singers and named their daughter in honor of Cecilia of Rome, the patroness of church music.
«Choosing this particular path was in the order of things: my mother she sang when I was still in her stomach. At home, I was more used to hearing singing than talking, «recalls Cecilia Bartoli.
She received her first singing lessons from her mother, who remained her only vocal teacher.
My mother helped me learn the technique of vocals, thanks to which I have been singing for 35 years. Cecilia Bartoli opera singer
According to Silvana Bazzoni Bartoli, her daughter showed musical abilities early: «Cecilia was a gifted child. I myself easily took high notes and began to teach this to my daughter, she grasped quickly. I accompanied her on the piano, but often couldn't keep up with her voice.»
A PHENOMENAL SUCCESS
The voice of Cecilia Bartoli conquered a wide audience around the world. Audio and video recordings of the opera diva's arias have sold over 10 million copies. This is a record among classical performers.
In 2016, Cecilia Bartoli realized her dream by creating her own orchestra of ancient instruments «Les Musiciens du Prince» («Musicians of the Prince of Monaco»), reviving the original sound of the Baroque era.
«Now we are a team, one might even say a family,» says Gianluca Capuano, the ensemble's lead conductor. “We feel great for each other musically. One glance at Cecilia or the musicians is enough and everything is clear.»Cecilia Bartoli agrees with the maestro: «We know each other very well, we breathe together, and I think it's really fundamental: to breathe together and do music, that's the secret.»
«We use instruments, copies of instruments that were used in this or that era,» explains Gianluca Capuano. “We are striving to find the authentic sound that the composer's contemporaries enjoyed.»To convey the true beauty of the masterpieces of the past is the mission that Cecilia Bartoli has entrusted to herself. A passionate researcher of music library archives, she has brought to life the works of long-forgotten composers from different eras.
«I am naturally curious and follow the example of great musicians who themselves have shown sophistication in finding repertoire. I enjoy working in archives. I I think we have yet to discover music that is currently unknown, but which is worth it,» says the singer.
«CASTRATOMANIA»
Cecilia Bartoli became interested in arias written for baroque castrato singers and recorded an album in honor of the coloratura master Farinelli (1705-1782).
The program dedicated to Farinelli is special. Imagine: in the courtyard of the XVIII century. Farinelli is a pop star. His voice was flexible, soft and moving. He could do great things: his arias were a parade of vocal pyrotechnics. He actually had a dialogue with all the instruments of the orchestra. Cecilia Bartoli opera singer
Castrati sang in church choirs, where women were not allowed until the 19th century, but over time, opera houses became interested in the «voices of angels». The peak of «castratomania» occurred in the 17th — early 18th centuries. In most cases, boys from poor families were sent to schools for «castrati» — often by force — in such a way that parents hoped to secure a future for their children. The aristocrat Farinelli (real name Carlo Broschi) is an exception. At the age of 7 to 12 years, that is, before the onset of voice breakdown, children were castrated — the gonads were surgically removed. The mutilated children were then trained in singing in special institutions in Bologna and Naples.
The practice of castration of young singers was already condemned in the second half of the 18th century, among its critics — Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In 1902, Pope Leo XIII finally banned castration.
Today, parts written for castrati are performed by both women (contralto, mezzo and soprano) and men (countertenors).
«Simplicity is a privilege of the great»
«What is the uniqueness of Cecilia «She's very easy to work with,» says Jean-Marc Goujon, flutist of the ensemble «Musicians of the Prince of Monaco». — As soon as she appears, she illuminates everything around, but her manner proves that simplicity is the privilege of the great. As soon as she appears, she illuminates everything around. Whenever we perform a piece of music together, we kind of recreate it. Concert magic takes us. No two concerts are the same. That's why these moments are so magical, and the magic stays with us all these years.»
«VISION AND PASSION»
Cecilia Bartoli has opened a new chapter in her creative life. Starting this year, she is the artistic director of the Monte-Carlo Opera. For the first time in the history of the prestigious theatre, the program of the season was presented by a woman.
«This is my first time heading a theatre. Before that, I was the director of the Salzburg Trinity Festival, which is a very important institution. But being the artistic director of an opera house is something completely different. After all, having passion for everything you do is the secret. The most important thing is vision and passion,” says Cecilia Bartoli.
As soon as you enter here, you immediately feel the incredible power of tradition. This is wonderful. It's a fantastic place.» Cecilia Bartoli opera singer
She now spends most of her time at the legendary Côte d'Azur Theatre, which opened in 1879. A gem of architecture, the Opera Monte Carlo was designed by Charles Garnier, creator of the Grand Opera in Paris.
The first season of Cecilia Bartoli in Monaco will be opened by the world famous French countertenor Philip Jaroussky.
It seems to me that we sang together with Cecilia long before we met. And I think a lot of singers felt the same way. When I first heard her recordings, I experienced an aesthetic and emotional shock. And, of course, I could not even dream that one day I would perform with her on the same stage. Opera singer Philippe Jaroussky
Countertenor told us about working in a team: «We really like working together, we feel harmony, affinity of souls. Vocalists want to surpass themselves, justify Cecilia's trust, be inspired by her artistic vision, because her work is a new word in history music».
The new artistic director has ambitious plans — to fit three centuries of classics into the program. She also intends to continue performing.
Singing on stage is incomparable. There are no words to describe these emotions. We stop breathing, everyone in the hall stops breathing. We are floating somewhere, this is another dimension. Holy sacrament. Cecilia Bartoli opera singer
«We must be the creators of today, look into the future and, of course, not forget the past,» says Cecilia Bartoli. According to the singer, her dream came true: «To continue to create beautiful things and share music, my passion with the public, is my dream, and this is what I live for now.»