In opera, specific voice types are often associated with certain types of characters. Numerous and diverse associations exist also for the bass voice, who can be a father, a villain, an elderly man, a religious figure, a comic character- or, indeed, a combination of the above. One recurring association for this voice type, however, deserves particular attention: that with evil, wicked, even diabolical characters. It is on that immensely fascinating association that this collection of arias is focused. The nineteen selections- composed by Mozart, Beethoven, Weber, Wagner, Meyerbeer, Berlioz, Gounod, Offenbach, Verdi, Boito, Mussorgsky, Stravinsky and Getty- take us on a journey through a period spanning some two hundred years, exploring how composers working in diverse national and institutional contexts and writing in an array of styles and genres exploited the bass voice to engage with the depiction of such characters. This colorful repertoire is sung by the esteemed American bass-baritone Kevin Short, whose powerful voice is as sensuous as it is sinister. Short is accompanied by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille, led by it's Music Director Lawrence Foster.

Tracklist:

Faust, Cg 4 (Excerpts): Le Veau D'or Est Toujours Debout
Faust, Cg 4 (Excerpts): Vous Qui Faites L'endormie
Mefistofele (Excerpts): Son Lo Spirito Che Nega
Mefistofele (Excerpts): Ecco Il Mondo
6 Songs, Op. 75: No. 3, Aus Goethes Faust (Arr. D. Shostakovich For Voice & Orchestra)
Fidelio, Op. 72: Ha! Welch Ein Augenblick!
Die Entführung Aus Dem Serail, K. 384 (Excerpts): Wer Ein Liebchen Hat Gefunden
Die Entführung Aus Dem Serail, K. 384 (Excerpts): O, Wie Will Ich Triumphieren
Der Freischütz, J. 277: Schweig! Damit Dich Niemand Warnt
Les Contes D'hoffmann (Excerpts): Prologue. Dans Les Rôles D'amoureux Langoureux
Les Contes D'hoffmann (Excerpts): Scintille, Diamant
I Lombardi Alla Prima Crociata: Sciagurata!
La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24, H. 111 (Excerpts): Voici Des Roses
La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24, H. 111 (Excerpts): Devant La Maison "Serenade Of Mephistopheles"
Mephistopheles To Faust (Version For Voice & Orchestra)
Mephistopheles's Song In Auerbach's Cellar "Song Of The Flea" (Arr. I. Stravinsky For Voice & Orchestra)
The Rake's Progress: I Burn, I Burn! I Freeze!
Robert Le Diable: Voici Donc Les Débris Du Monastère Antique
Das Rheingold, Wwv 86a: Bin Ich Nun Frei "Alberich's Curse"

UPC: 827949058561
Label: Pentatone
Release Date: 8.3.18
Format: CD

Beethoven / Short - Mephistopheles & Other Bad Guys (CD)