Lado Ataneli: Baritone Arias

Wurttemberg Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Lodovico Zocche Naxos 8.572438 ****

While this is his debut disc for a solo recital, this fine young baritone from Georgia appeared on the recent DVD release of Verdi’s

Otello

, from Barcelona. There he was Iago, with Jose Cura in the name part, who he outshone for much of the opera. He is a fine dramatic baritone, reminiscent of Ettore Bastianini, especially memorable in the lower register where he has a smooth velvet tone with plenty of power and colour. He covers a wide range of material in this recital, from Verdi to Mozart, and on the evidence of his singing of the two Don Giovanni arias here he would make a fine Don with power, finesse and menace. There are not many young dramatic baritones with serious promise around at present, so Ataneli should have a great future. See ataneli.com COLMAN MORRISSEY

Download Tracks: Finch'han dal vino, Vision Fugitive, Toreador Song