Treasures Of Bel Canto

Tenor Rolando Villazón presents a recital of 18th-century Italian songs by Bellini, Donizetti, Rossini and Verdi. Most of the songs were written for voice and piano, but Villazón has commissioned orchestrations. According to the tenor, “The songs were asking to be orchestrated. I could hear the orchestra in my head as I sang them.” Villazón is joined by star mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli for one selection and Marco Armiliato conducts the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.