This sparkling disc brings together a collection of arias Rossini composed for one of the great prima donnas of the 19th century, his wife, Isabella Colbran. It's tempting to wonder whether even she could match Cecilia Bartoli, one of the most luscious, most exciting voices in opera. All those dazzling chromatic runs, leaps, cadenzas and cascading coloraturas are handled with consummate ease. Throughout she sounds as if she's enjoying the music; there's always an engaging smile in the voice, although she's properly imperious in the extracts from Elisabetta and disarmingly simple in the prayerful 'Giusto ciel, in tal periglio' from Maometto II. The orchestral and choral forces provide a delightful intimacy, with some cheeky woodwind solos and fruity brass passages.
The recording, produced at the Teatro La Fenice by Decca veteran Christopher Raeburn, favours the voices but gives it just enough distance to accommodate high Cs and astounding A flats at the bottom of the range. The orchestral perspective is changeable but satisfactory. For Rossini and Bartoli fans, this disc is a must.