Paolo Tosti (1846-1916)
Apri!, CS81
At the Convent Gate, CS 82
In mare, CS83
Prière, CS84
Sogno, CS85
Marechiare, chanson napolitaine, CS86
Pepìta, vieille chanson espagnole, CS87
Lutto, CS88
L’ultimo bacio, CS89
Chanson de Fortunio, CS90
Love Ties, CS91
Malìa, CS92
Segreto, CS93
Vieni, petite barcarolle, CS94
We Have Loved, CS95
Malinconia, CS96
La viuletta, CS97
Luce d’amore!, CS 98
Deux mélodies, CS100
Dreams of the Summer Night (My Lady Sleeps), sérénade, CS101
Chanson d’automne, CS102
Ici bas, CS103
Mio povero amor!, CS104
Ridonami la calma!, CS105
Tell Them!, CS106
Autres feuilles d'albums, CS107
Carmela, CS108
La serenata, CS109
Shall We Forget, CS110
Non senti tu…, CS113
Un bacio, CS114
Pianto di monaca, CS115
Io mi domando, CS116
Cadenza a La serenata, CS109B
Beauty’s Eyes, CS117
Ever Yours Sincerely, CS118
Tell me to Stay, CS119
Chanson vénitienne, CS120
Canzone Veneziana, CS120B
Winged Echoes, CS121
Entra!, CS124
Magìa, CS125
My Memories, CS126
Triste ritorno, CS128
I Dare to Love Thee, CS129
Novena profana, CS130
Chanson napolitaine, CS131
Per morire, CS132
Comme va?, CS134
Nel mio segreto?, CS135
Quatre mélodies, CS150

Monica Bacelli, soprano
Mark Milhofer, ténor
Benedetta Torre, soprano
Eugene Villanueva, baryton
Désirée Rancatore, soprano
Jurgita Adamontyé, mezzo-soprano
Piotr Lempa, basse
Antonio Ballista, piano
Luisa Prayer, piano
Marco Scolastra, piano
Marco Morestro, piano

With this second volume of Tosti’s songs, Brilliant Classics takes listeners just halfway through a prodigious, career-long output, in which the key-notes are unfailingly memorable melody, lively charm and a gift for story-telling that rivals the very greatest song-writers past and present, from Schubert to Dylan. Many of his songs have never been recorded, so this set makes a unique contribution to the catalogue. The booklet contains an extensive introduction to the project by Francesco Sanvitale, the scholar who devised the project and in whose memory it is being gradually realised and published after his untimely death in 2014. There are a few French songs on Vol 2, reflecting Tosti’s great popularity in Paris, but most of the texts here are by Italian poets, mostly contemporaries such as D’Annunzio and Panzacchi. The discs work chronologically through the decade 1886- 1895, during which time he was singing teacher to the English royal family. Perhaps in deference to his pupils, there are songs by the likes of Longfellow and Weatherly: the last disc concludes with his delicately wistful setting of In the Hush of the Night. The first volume on Brilliant Classics (BC95201) of this extraordinary project won wide critical praise. ‘All the singers are careful over nuances,’ remarked MusicWeb International. ’Tosti’s songs have, through the years, been bawled out of recognition by leather-lunged tenors, and it is a blessing to hear so many beautiful pianissimos and diminuendos in this repertoire. The accompaniments are discreet and the recording is well-balanced and naturalsounding.’ This set will be an essential acquisition for all lovers of art-song. The booklet includes liner notes in English and Italian, the sung texts are available on the Brilliant Classics website.