Porpora: Arias for Farinelli – Philippe Jaroussky

   in Opera Now (Dec, 2013)
The castrato Farinelli stood out for his astonishing virtuosity, purity and strength. Philippe Jaroussky is one of today’s sweetest-toned counter tenors, and though the voice is rather smaller than Farinelli’s must have been, there is nothing half- hearted about this disc. Featuring some of the most challenging arias written for Farinelli by his teacher Nicola Porpora, it’s a selection designed to showcase every aspect of Jaroussky’s technique. They are lovely pieces, with something of Gluck in their restrained beauty and translucency, for example the gorgeous final lament from Orfeo, its endless winding melody given here in a terrific, controlled performance by Jaroussky. There are excerpts from Polifemo, which went head-to-head with …