CDs
New CD among Top 10 of 2025
“With Seda Amir-Karayan, every note of Bach sounds groundbreaking. Accompanied by Camerata Vivaldiana, her raw yet lush alto voice blends Bach’s music with Armenian chants in an intense, spiritually charged album that will take your breath away.”
BACH: Solo
Cantatas for Alto
Armenian Chants
Seda Amir-Karayan
Camerata Vivaldiana:
Freddie James (organo obbligato, continuo),
Christine Busch
(concertmaster),
Lathika Vithanage,
Katia Viel
(violin I),
Cecilie Valter,
Petra Melicharek,
Ildikó Sajgó
(violin II),
Sara Gómez Yunta,
Mirjam Toews,
Johannes Frisch,
Michèle Party
(viola),
Daniel Rosin,
Carla Rovirosa
(violoncello),
Miriam Shalinsky
(violone),
Niels Pfeffer
(cembalo, organo obbligato II),
Olga Marulanda,
José Manuel Cuadrado Sánchez
(oboe, oboe d’amore),
Laura Alvarado
(taille)
Fritz Krämer (direction)
Passacaille PAS 1158
“Stagioni d’Amore”
Madrigals by Marini, Rovetta & Valentini
BERNVOCAL:
Hana Blažíková, Barbora Kabátková
(soprano),
Jan Börner (alto),
Michael Feyfar, Raphael Höhn (tenor),
Markus Flaig (bass)
Franciska Hajdu (violin I/concertmaster),
Anna Amstutz (violin II),
Sara Gómez Yunta (viola),
Julien Léonard (viola da gamba),
Armin Bereuter (viola da gamba & violone),
Rosario Conte (theorbo),
Antonio Greco (harpsichord/organ)
Fritz Krämer (direction)
5 DIAPASONS
“More gleaming, the anthology of Venetian music of the Seicento, mixing works by Marini, Rovetta and Valentini around the theme of the four seasons, is superbly defended by the soprano Hana Blažíková (impeccable diction and agile vocalisation), supported with fervour and intelligence by a solid vocal and instrumental ensemble (BERNVOCAL), under the energetic and attentive direction of Fritz Krämer. (Stagioni d’amore, Passacaille, *****).”
Crescendo: JOKER ABSOLU
“One only has to hear Hana Blažíková exhale the torments of her Lagrime d’Erminia to be immediately won over by this suave and agile soprano. The ensuing recital did not betray this promise. The rest of the vocal team is nothing short of delightful, both in terms of technique and empathy with the texts. The madrigals for mixed voices are particularly well matched in terms of timbre, impetus and collective dynamics. The ensemble BERNVOCAL, under the lively and inspired direction of Fritz Krämer, is impeccable. This enchanting and constantly touching disc is hardly worth depriving of an Absolute Joker. Duly noted!”
Classica: *****
“Through a precise and sensitive dramaturgy,
the soprano Hana Blažíková and Fritz
Krämer, conductor of the Swiss ensemble BERNVOCAL, have
woven a link between the seasons and the cycle of passionate love
…
Hana Blažíková is compelling,
confident and distraught at the same time, her very free and
tension-free voice fully dedicated to the poem.
… the
warlike trumpets alternating with amorous jubilation are superbly
represented by a homogeneous team of singers well versed in the art
of madrigal singing …
The effect is magnificently
exploited by the ensemble, which also shines with its instrumental
excellence.”
Chorzeit: *****/*****
“Through the distinguished interpretations of Blažíková and BERNVOCAL, the already artful Italian texts become true centrepieces. Bravo!” (Ensemble sound: 5/5; Interpretation: 5/5)
