Sara Mingardo at the Wigmore Hall

[Chris Newman]

Before it disappears I recommend this week's Wigmore Hall recital. Sara Mingardo is one of the few very rare REAL contraltos around these days.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b016kdk0

[doversoul1]

…and even rarer to hear a solo recital on Radio3. A great voice and an hour of wonderful songs.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b016kdk0

[PatrickOD]

Beautiful recital. My instant favourite song was Lotti's 'Pur dicesti, o bocca bella'. I looked it up. Mamma mia! Those old Italians knew how to write a love song! I found a version by Sara Mingardo - what a voice! O bocca bocca bella.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZqvVy_xo3Y&feature=related

[Chris Newman]

Gorgeous song, Patrick. I have the record.

[gurnemanz]

I endorse the above comments and regret not being able to get there in person (When's she on next?)

I love this disc: http://www.mdt.co.uk/MDTSite/product/CD/OP30395.htm

[gamba]

Why so much vibrato ?

It was spoilt for me & I have several recordings by her unafflicted by this habit. Perhaps the most remarkable of these is her role as as the Messaggiera in Jordi Savall's DVD of Monteverdi's L'Orfeo.

Why the change ?