Cyndia Sieden - Mozart: MITRIDATE, Al destin che la minaccia, 1997 High E

THE SONGBIRD: Cyndia Sieden was born Cyndia Siedentop in California in 1961. As a teenager, she was a concert soloist in Seattle and appeared with the Seattle Opera as the Forest Bird in 1980, as well as being the Pacific Northwest regional winner of the Met Auditions in 1981. Back in California, Sieden began taking private lessons with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf in 1982, through which was she invited to the Salzburg Mozarteum, winning first place in 1983. Her European debut role was Rosina in Munich; her American debut in a leading role came in 1984 as Marie in Tampa. Since then, Sieden has built an impressive international career in a wide range of baroque, classical, and modern works in many of the world's opera houses and festivals: Paris, Lyon, Barcelona, Brussels, Halle, London (Covent Garden and ENO), Glasgow, Sydney, Vienna, Beijing, Palermo, Frankfurt, Berlin, Geneva, Vancouver, Boston, Phoenix, Santa Fe, Chicago, Washington DC, Cardiff, Amsterdam, Antwerp, and Palermo. Her specialty has been Mozart, including many Queens of the Night, of course, and Strauss, including Zerbinetta in London, Munich, Vienna, Seattle, Bonn, and Tokyo.

THE MUSIC: Mozart wrote his first opera seria "Mitridate, re di Ponto" K.87 in 1770 when he was 14 years old; it premiered in Milan late that same year. The opera's cast calls for four sopranos, one alto, and two tenors -- three of those roles (Sifare, Arbate, and Farnace) were originally written for castrati. The plot is loaded with interwoven political and amorous rivalries and complications. The leading soprano role is Aspasia, who is pledged to marry Mitridate (the King and the lead tenor) while being romantically pursued by Farnace (a general and an alto) -- meanwhile she is in love with Farnace's brother Sifare (another soprano). The role was written for Antonia Bernasconi, a noted prima donna of the era who was the stepdaughter of the Kapellmeister of the court at Munich. Aspasia's aria "Al destin che la minaccia" is No. 1, the very first aria in the opera and a rollercoaster ride of vigorous coloratura runs, scales, and turns. Sieden touches a High E6 in her cadenza.

Видео Cyndia Sieden - Mozart: MITRIDATE, Al destin che la minaccia, 1997 High E канала songbirdwatcher