Artist Name: Ramón Vargas, tenor
Album Title: In My Heart; Nel Mio Cuore; 17th & 18th Century Italian Songs
Release Date: October 7, 2002
Genre: Italian songs, arie antiche
Label: RCA Victor Red Seal
Website: http://www.ramonvargas.com (in English and Spanish)
Review: The arie antiche (or what students have come to know as the Twenty-Four Italian Songs and Arias) are often music that is assigned to a beginning student as he or she first starts vocal training. Most young singers use these songs to learn about singing Italian vowels and legato phrases. Very rarely do we actually get to hear these beautiful songs outside of a studio or academic setting. On In my Heart, Nel Mio Cuore, Mexican tenor, Ramón Vargas returns to the roots or vocal training with a collection of several of these Italian Gems.
Vargas gracefully sings these beautiful songs, interpreting them with the skill and mastery of an accomplished artist. Accompanied by a small orchestra, Vargas sings allows us to hear colors and emotion in these songs. He has in-effect dusted off these old war-horses and given us his wonderful interpretations. Ornamentation is stylish and tasteful. In the liner-notes, Vargas reminds us that “I SING BECAUSE I ENJOY IT AND HAVE FUN DOING IT!” Vargas clearly enjoys singing these songs, and therefore we enjoy hearing them as well.
Album tracks:
- Amarilla, mia bella, Caccini
- Vittoria, mio core!, Carissimi
- O cessate di piagarmi , A. Scarlatti
- Già il sole dal Gange, Scarlatti
- Toglietemi la vita ancor, Scarlatti
- Pur dicesti, o bocca bella, Lotti
- Sebben, crudele, Caldara
- Come raggio di sol, Caldara
- Per la gloria d'adorarvi, Bononcini
- Il mio bel foco; Quella fiamma, Marcello
- Teco, si, vengo anch'io, Vinci
- Nina, Ciampi
- O del mio dolce ardor, Gluck
- Nel cor piu non mi sento, Paisiello
- Plaisir d'amour, Martini
- Caro mio ben, Giordani
