Antonio Scrivano

To mark the 150th anniversary of the death of Hector Berlioz, ATMA Classique and Festival Classica present the first complete recording of the composer's arrangements of romances for voice and guitar. Selected from The Recueil de romances avec accompagnement de guitare, most of these pieces are arrangements of popular tunes from the comic operas that were all the rage in Paris in Berlioz's time. Soprano Magali Simard-Galdes and tenor Antonio Figueroa are accompanied by David Jacques, who plays an 1829 Jean-Joseph Coffe guitar. The young Quebecoise soprano Magali Simard-Galdes has been acclaimed for her crystalline timbre, great musicality, and magnetic stage present. Recent debuts include the role of Sophie in Werther for Opera de Quebec, and Louisette in Bonsoir viosin at Opera Lafayette. Montreal native Antonio Figueroa began his career with the Opera de Montreal in their artist-in-residence program. He has won several awards, including the International Vocal Arts Institute's Silverman Prize for his performance as Belmonte. Guitarist and lutenist David Jacques has a Ph.D. in early music performance from the Universitie de Montreal. His discography consists of more than 50 recordings across several labels.

Elis Regina, a cool, feminine Brazilian singer who died tragically of cocaine/alcohol poisoning at age 36, made this often deeply affecting album with Antonio Carlos Jobim in Los Angeles for the Brazilian market only; it was not released in the U.S. until 1989. While there is plenty of bossa nova here, the arrangements at times reflect the more cinematic, more inward directions that Jobim's music was taking, and the lyrics often speak even more harrowingly of heartbreak than ever. Yet this pair can also celebrate Jobim's music, as they do in a rendition of "Aguas de Marco" that nearly collapses in unself-conscious laughter. Throughout, Regina is in the spotlight, with Jobim a supporting, sometimes invisible but always pervasive presence.

Review: ~ Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide