Laura Catrani - Vox in femina - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Laura Catrani writes InchMy first concert for the unaccompanied voice was Vox in Femina (2010), in which I brought together some of the great twentieth-century and contemporary composers. Vox in Bestia is a natural progression of that work. The idea came about in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. I was thinking about a new project for a solo voice when I came across the universe of fantastical animals and medieval bestiaries. I was also thinking about Dante's upcoming anniversary. And that is when the idea came to me I could create a Dante-esque bestiary, a sort of exploration of the real and fantastical animals found in The Divine Comedy, observed and perceived through the prism of my voice. I brought together the composers Fabrizio de Rossi Re, Matteo Franceschini and Alessandro Solbiati, asking each of them to compose five short pieces for a solo voice inspired by Dante's tercets that talk about animals. They were to compose in their own style, based on their individual personalities and sensibilities. A narrative line by a distinguished voice of contemporary Italian literature would be interwoven alongside them. I felt that Tiziano Scarpa was the perfect writer - he is imaginative and at the same time rooted and concrete - so I asked him to write a sort of literary commentary to Dante's verses.Inch

Her songwriting feels authentic yet with a hint of mystery such as in the song 'Ragged Queen'. Throughout the record though, it is her voice I marvel at, particularly on the title track, 'Awake'. She exhibits such control, it's flawless throughout. This may be one of the best folk albums you'll hear all year. - Maverick Country

Maria Callas may presents a rather formidable portrait of a young girl in Act one. The final act is more than an epilogue to the rest, rather a culmination, with Callas at her very peak. Giuseppe Di Stefano, is also superb form and Conductor Serafin's pacing of the score is true mastery. 2 CD 1 CD-ROM.