A Tribute to Pauline Viardot

Marina Viotti and Les Talens Lyriques evoke the musical legacy of Pauline Viardot, whose radiant voice and stage presence inspired composers as diverse as Berlioz, Halévy, Gounod, and Saint-Saëns, among others, to create operatic roles for her. The Swiss mezzo-soprano has the tonal weight, technique, and personality to do justice to Viardot’s dazzling repertoire. She invests popular hits such as Rossini’s “Una voce poco fa” (Track 5) and Bellini’s “Se Romeo t’uccise un figlio” (Track 2) with a sparky freshness and sumptuous sensuality that enhance their immediate emotional appeal. Christophe Rousset and his superb period-instrument band are in scintillating form throughout. They turn in a breathtaking performance of the “Overture” to Rossini’s *Semiramide* (Track 6), the fizzing energy of which is amplified by Viotti in her majestic interpretation of “Bel raggio lusinghier” from the same opera (Track 7).