Benvenuto Cellini (Berlioz)

Virgin Classics #5457062
Gregory Kunde (Benvenuto), Patrizia Ciofi (Teresa), Joyce DiDonato (Ascanio), Jean-François Lapointe (Fieramosca), Laurent Naouri (Balducci), Renaud Delaigue (Le Pape); John Nelson (conductor), Orchestre National de France.
Released in November 2004.
REVIEWS:

"The cast meets the standards of--and in a case or two, surpasses--that of the Davis recording. Patrizia Ciofi here easily outsings and outcharms Christiane Eda-Pierre. Ciofi's voice is bright, delicate, and young-sounding, her rarely needed coloratura is impeccable, her ensemble work professional and well-integrated. Her French pronunciation is excellent. [...]The duet for Cellini and Teresa in the third tableau is ravishing." ClassicsToday

"Both Ciofi and di Donato surpass their Davis equivalents, Eda-Pierre and Berbié." Fanfare

"Laurent Naouri sings characterfully in the equivocal role of Balducci, treasurer to the Pope, and Patricia Ciofi is fresh and pure as his daughter, Teresa. Both are given important extra material: Balducci his opening aria, and Teresa a romance, later replaced by a cavatina, here given in an appendix." Guardian

"[Ciofi’s] limpid tone and dramatic phrasing only confirm her new diva status." S&H

"Patrizia Ciofi (Teresa) is daarentegen ideaal, bovenal in een als appendix opgenomen aria, die Berlioz later schrapte omdat niemand die kon zingen. Patrizia Ciofi kan het wel. En hoe." Haagsche Courant

"Sa Térésa a également un petit format vocal. Patrizia Ciofi n'est pas une grande voix en termes de puissance, mais, sa Lucie au Châtelet nous l'avait déjà démontré, elle est une grande actrice, une bonne technicienne et le français ne lui pose pas de problème. Dans ces conditions, elle s'empare aisément de notre coeur en même temps que de celui de Cellini." Forum Opera stage review

Reviews also appeared in the following publications:
Gramophone - January 2005 p.95
Opera - May 2005 pp.616-617
Opera News - February 2005 pp.71-72
Orpheus - 1+2 Januar+Februar 2005 S.55
Opéra International - No.296 décembre 2004 p.79
Diapason - No.520 décembre 2004 p.77
The Absolute Sound - June/July 2005 Issue 154 p.131, p.133
Classica Répertoire - No.69 février 2005 p.70
International Record Review - February 2005 p.74
L'opera (Milano) - Anno XIX N.192 marzo 2005 pp.89-90