Barbara Strozzi's Virtuosissima Sirena is a testament to her status as 17th-century revolutionary composer, whose 120 published works for solo voice were unparalleled by her contemporaries. Born into the esteemed Venetian intelligentsia, Strozzi rose to prominence at just 15 years old, engaging in intellectual debates and producing music that would rival some of the era's greatest voices.
The Virtuosissima Sirena album features a unique blend of cantatas, arias, and trio sonatas by Legrenzi and Castello, all of which come together to create a shimmering sonic landscape. The Accademia dell'Annunciata's ensemble, consisting of two violins, cello, theorbo, double harp, and harpsichord, lends the music an effervescent sweetness that is both sumptuous and enchanting.
Soprano Laura Catrani brings her unfussy yet emotive voice to the forefront, delivering standout performances in L'Amante Segreto and Costume de Grande. The latter, Strozzi's setting of one of her father's poetic jabs at high society, showcases Catrani's lively tone and breathy phrasing.
Director Riccardo Doni allows this music to breathe, letting its madrigalian effects – dissonant intervals for pain and measured rests for sighs and tears – take center stage. As a result, Virtuosissima Sirena is an enchanting listen that transports listeners to the vibrant world of 17th-century Venetian musical culture.
The Virtuosissima Sirena album features a unique blend of cantatas, arias, and trio sonatas by Legrenzi and Castello, all of which come together to create a shimmering sonic landscape. The Accademia dell'Annunciata's ensemble, consisting of two violins, cello, theorbo, double harp, and harpsichord, lends the music an effervescent sweetness that is both sumptuous and enchanting.
Soprano Laura Catrani brings her unfussy yet emotive voice to the forefront, delivering standout performances in L'Amante Segreto and Costume de Grande. The latter, Strozzi's setting of one of her father's poetic jabs at high society, showcases Catrani's lively tone and breathy phrasing.
Director Riccardo Doni allows this music to breathe, letting its madrigalian effects – dissonant intervals for pain and measured rests for sighs and tears – take center stage. As a result, Virtuosissima Sirena is an enchanting listen that transports listeners to the vibrant world of 17th-century Venetian musical culture.
! It's amazing how Strozzi was making waves in her teenage years already, I mean, who else can say they're out-debating intellectuals and composing masterpieces at that age? 
And Laura Catrani, girl is giving me life with those powerful yet emotive performances! 
I love how Director Doni lets the music shine without over-producing it, it's like you can almost hear the whispers of the past echoing through the chamber. 
The ensemble's got that old-world charm going on, and the Accademia dell'Annunciata is totally bringing their A-game to this album! 
I'm so happy to see more people discovering Barbara Strozzi's amazing music! It's like she's been waiting for someone to come along and share her genius with the world 
. Laura Catrani's voice is just incredible, it's like you can feel all the emotions in every note she sings 
. And can we talk about how beautiful this album sounds? The way everything comes together is just magical 
. It makes me want to travel back in time and experience 17th-century Venice for myself 
. I'm so grateful that there are people like Director Riccardo Doni who get to share these incredible stories with us 
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! The way Laura Catrani's voice just soars on "L'Amante Segreto" gives me chills every time 
. And can we talk about the instrumentation? It's like they're transporting you to a different era, you know? 
I love how director Riccardo Doni lets the music breathe and really brings out the emotions in each piece 
just imagine being in 17th-century Venice while listening to Virtuosissima Sirena, it's like a dream come true for me! 
. The way they've curated these tracks together is pure magic 
. The interface is so clunky and hard to navigate, it's like they took all the worst parts of old websites and mashed them together 
. I mean, can't they just simplify things for once? And don't even get me started on the ads... ugh, can we please have a commercial-free zone around here? 
i love how director riccardo doni lets the music breathe too it's like you can feel the emotions behind every note 
. and i love how director riccardo doni lets the music breathe, doesn't try to overdo anything, just lets the beauty of the compositions shine through 
. This album is like stepping into a bygone era, and I'm so grateful to have experienced it 
. Don't get me wrong, Laura Catrani sounds nice and all but c'mon, I'd rather listen to Billie Eilish right now 
yeah sure, more like a bunch of old instruments clanging together 
. It's amazing to think about how this music was written so long ago, but it still feels so relevant today 
. The way the ensemble brings out the sweetness in these old pieces is like a breath of fresh air 
. I love how Director Riccardo Doni lets the music breathe too - no forced drama or anything like that, just pure beauty 
! I mean, can you believe this woman was only 15 when she started making music and still managed to create some of the most iconic pieces of her time? 
. I love how the director lets the music breathe, it's like you can feel the emotion pouring out of every note 
and now they've got this amazing soprano Laura Catrani singing like an angel 
. The way she belts out that Strozzi tune in "L'Amante Segreto" gives me chills every time. And can we talk about that ensemble? They're like the ultimate musical wizards 
, conjuring up this lush, 17th-century sound that's just... wow! I swear, back in my day, we didn't have access to music like this (remember when we had to listen on vinyl or cassette? 
... it's like they're trying to distract us from something. I mean, think about it - a super talented composer like Strozzi, producing all these amazing works at such a young age? That's like something out of a storybook, right? But what if she was being manipulated by the powers that be? What if her family connections and social status gave her an unfair advantage? It's too convenient to believe it just happened on its own. And don't even get me started on the ensemble - all those instruments coming together in perfect harmony... sounds like some kind of secret code to me 
i mean, virtuosissima sirena sounds like something out of a fairy tale with all these instruments and laura catrani's voice is everything 
laura catrani is literally amazing as a soprano she brings so much emotion to every song and riccardo doni does an incredible job of letting the music shine thru its not just some boring period piece , its this enchanting world that u cant get enough of !