Baroque Divas

   in Opera Now (Dec, 2015)
Decca’s Baroque Divas offers more rarities, following on from the release earlier this year of The Five Countertenors, and once again providing spirited playing from Armonia Atenea under George Petrou. It’s a well-tested formula, and why not? It brings together a group of repertoire specialists in a selection of contrasting arias that showcase their individual strengths. Vivica Genaux starts proceedings with an aria by Veracini, and so virtuosic is her singing that she almost leaves everyone else in the dust. Luckily Sonia Prina’s spicier mezzo puts up a good fight, Mary-Ellen Nesi shows her dramatic mettle as Gluck’s Iphigenie (Aulisian not Taurian) and Romina Basso’s more profound tones provide a …