Dolce Duello

Cecilia Bartoli and Sol Gabetta’s sweet duel of 18th-century arias for soprano, cello and orchestra is a thing of joy, two master musicians responding to each other in the most inspiring ways. From Albinoni’s quicksilver “Aure, andate e baciate” to Handel's stately “Ode for Saint Cecilia’s Day” via Porpora, Caldara and Boccherini, Gabetta’s cello sings with unalloyed grace, while Bartoli’s vocal tone and control are simply astonishing—together, these two produce alchemy. While the arias they perform may be unfamiliar to many, Bartoli and Gabetta’s brilliance transforms them into old friends.