Matilda Lloyd has a new CD out, ‘Casta Diva’ from Chandos Records is a real treat, the tone and quality of player and recording is evident from the opening bars of the first piece ‘Liete voci! from ‘Zaira’, the appreciation of the sound and skill becomes more evident as you listen to more of this compelling CD, for me the highlight is Variations on a Cavatina from Bellini’s ‘Beatrice di Tenda’, a piece that I had on repeat for almost a full evening, others have come close, but for me this is a real gem.
 

Every track has something that will catch your ear, there are no acrobatics, no tricks or gimmicks, great musicianship and easy listening is the order of the day and this CD is packed full of that.

Here is the tracklist:

Mercadante (rev. Foster): ‘Liete Voci!’ (4:08)

Mercadante (rev. Foster): Ah si, questo di mia vita’ from Zaira (2:58)

Bellini (rev. Foster): ‘Oh mie fedeli…Ma la sola ohimè!’ from Beatrice di Tenda (5:15)

J.B. Arban (arr. Foster): Fantasie and Variations on a Cavatina from ‘Beatrice di Tenda’ by V. Bellini (4:13)

Bellini: ‘Oh! quante volte’ from I Capuleti e I Montecchi (3:29)

J.B. Arban (arr. Mikhail Nakariakov): Variations on Bellini’s Norma (Casta Diva) (6:07)

Ricci (arr. Foster): Tarantella Napoletana from la Festa di Piedigrotta (2:28)

Rossini (arr. Foster): ‘Ah quel giorno ognor rammento’ from Semiramide (5:23)

Viardot (arr. Foster): Havanaise (4:11)

Viardot (arr. Foster): ‘Chanson de la Pluie’ from Le Dernier Sorcier (2:43)

Rossini (arr. Foster): Prélude, Thème and Variations (10:25)

Donizetti: ‘Una furtiva lagrima’ from L’elisir d’amore (3:40)

Donizetti (rev. Foster): Act II Prelude from Don Pasquale (2:19)

Donizetti (rev. Foster): ‘Quel Guardo il Cavaliere’ from Don Pasquale (5:22) 

Head to Chandos Records for purchase options

https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHSA%205321