Vesselina Kasarova: Mozart Arias
Ours is an age happily rich in lyric mezzo-sopranos who can handle the challenges of the coloratura repertoire of Rossini and Mozart. One of the most exciting is Bulgarian mezzo Vesselina Kasarova, who combines beauty of voice, intelligence of interpretation, and dramatic conviction in one very talented package. Here she is in her element, as a passionate Dorabella, an ardent Idamante, and--making a good case for a mezzo in roles usually given to a soubrette--a very sexy Zerlina, among others. The instrumental-only interludes weren't really necessary, but at least they fit in with the rest of the album.--Sarah Bryan Miller