Bidu Sayao

Bidu Sayao: Opera Arias and Brazilian Folksongs

Bidu Sayão is considered the best Brazilian soprano ever and certainly one of the most taltented singers of the 20th century. Do you want to know why? This disc contains some important selections of Sayão's wonderful artistry. It includes arias and songs from French repertoire, in which Sayão is even in our days considered the most perfect example of French singing and style, some lovely Brazilian folksongs and her legendary recording of the Cantilena of Bachianas Brasileiras no. 5. It's a very good selection for every listener, since it shows Sayão's perfect vocal technique and sincere and moving interpretation. We have a joyful "Je veux vivre" as well as a heartbreaking "Adieu, notre petite table". Ah, but the true show here is her Bachianas Brasileiras. I'm absolutely sure you will never hear a better interpretation of this song! Sayão could sing from the most lyric parts and the most wonderful pianissimi to the most incredible coloraturas with no difficulty. Actually, she had exactly what I would call "perfect vocal technique", since it never, I mean, never fails. Her voice was small, but so carefully trained that it amazes me more than many big voices I heard. It's always pure, sweet and charming. Dont' miss this singer who was maybe the best lyric soprano of the first half of the 20th century. If you are interested in listening to good music sung by a legendary voice, you really need to buy it! --an Amazon reviewer
 

La Domoiselle elue/Opera Arias

For two decades, Bidu Sayou, the petite Brazilian soprano, won the devotion of Metropolitan Opera audiences for her bright, silvery sound, clear diction, and discreet passion. This well-transferred CD focuses on Italian-language roles, with the Debussy the sole exception. Sayou's Mozart is outstanding; her innately aristocratic style is perfectly suited to music, even in roles like Figaro's Countess, that would have been too heavy for her on stage. She's a heart-breaking Mimi in La Boheme, a convincing Violetta in Traviata, and even a moving Butterfly, just to cite some of the roles included here. And she gets fine support from accompanists that include Bruno Walter, Fausto Cleva, and Erich Leinsdorf. A treasurable CD! --Dan Davis

Rarities

The lovely Brazilian soprano, Bidu Sayao, who was born in 1902 (and still with us), had a small, silvery, and very expressive voice. It was for her that Villa Lobos composed his famous Bachianas Brazilieras No. 5. On this CD we hear Sayao's first studio recordings, from the early 1930s, comprising some nice Portuguese songs and excerpts from an opera by Gomes (Il Guarany), which exhibit a smooth legato and a bright tone. The other (and more interesting selections) are taken from broadcasts made between l948 and l951. A lovely duet from L'elisir d'amore (with Italo Tajo), two poignant selections from Massenet's Manon and one from Puccini's, Mimi's tender farewell from La Bohème, and a couple of other pieces take a back seat to the 10-minute duet which closes Gounod's Romeo et Juliette. Here, Sayao is partnered by Jussi Bjoerling, and if you haven't heard it, you don't know what you're missing. In all, an important release. --Robert Levine

Also See:
Heitor Villa-Lobos

Antonio Carlos Gomes

Laurindo Almeida

Brazilian Classical Music

Brazilian Music Index