UAE | Heritage and Culture
To me music doesn't lie, says opera singer Bartoli
Four-time Grammy Award Opera singer, Cecilia Bartoli will perform tonight at the Emirates Palace as a part of the Abu Dhabi Classics.
- By Marten Youssef, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:30 November 21, 2008
- Bartoli's lively performances of Mozart, Baroque, and Rossini's music quickly earned her the spotlight.
- Image Credit: Supplied Picture
Abu Dhabi: Four-time Grammy Award Opera singer, Cecilia Bartoli will perform tonight at the Emirates Palace as a part of the Abu Dhabi Classics.
Watching the sun set into the Gulf, Bartoli says, "For me, I think in terms of music. When I see such a spectacular sunset I can put a melody to it in my head because I just can't think of enough words to describe it with."
Born in Rome to opera-singing parents, Bartoli was quickly inspired by her family to pursue the same path. "But I wanted to be a flamenco dancer. I didn't want to follow in their path and look where I am today," she laughs.
At 20, Bartoli took the stage with renowned conductors Daniel Barenboim and Nikolaus Harnoncourt setting her career in motion. Today she is known to be one of the best, if not the best, mezzo-sopranos in the world. Her lively performances of Mozart, Baroque, and Rossini's music quickly earned her the spotlight.
For Bartoli, music is life not background noise filler. "I don't just put music on to fill the silence. I listen to music when I can focus on it," she ads. To her, music is much more powerful and accurate than words. "Because music doesn't lie," she says.
For the past two decades Bartoli has travelled throughout the world singing in the classical music halls.
Having been on the stage for two decades she has seen musicians rise and fall. "The reason why you see so may musicians rise so quickly, stay on top for a few months and then vanish is because there is no character. Look at some of the best musicians we have today who have been around for a long time and it is mainly because they are talented but also have an appealing character," she says.
As this is her first performance in the Middle East, Bartoli is excited to take the stage. "I always advise people that when they can, they should just listen. Don't worry about being an expert or being able to understand the language. Music has a language of its own and it will speak to you."
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