While most of his last CDs tended towards the same oeuvre he is currently presenting on opera stages worldwide, “Cielo e Mar” is decidedly a studio project. This, however, did not pose specific problems for Rolando Villazon. Quite on the contrary, the freshness of the material was a great challenge and welcome opportunity for him “Maybe when you've worked on an aria with a conductor and director, your vision of it is richer. But here I feel I can gain more spontaneity. It's like I'm creating the piece for the first time, without the burden of history."

One of the most diiffcult aspects of the album, rather, was to achieve high proficiency in a wide variety of singing techniques, some of which openly opposed each other. “I worked very hard to present each piece in the appropriate style”, Rolando Villazon said, “The way you use portamento”, the way you approach a high note, the way you sing quietly - they're all different in different eras.”

The possibility of turning “Cielo e Mar” into a perfect vision, making full use of modern technology, also played an essential role: “I think it's vital to remember why recording is so important. With a studio recording - with all the balancing and patching, and even the choice of repertoire - you have the possibility to create something that you will never hear in the concert hall or opera house. That's one reason why I put my heart into it so much."

Homepage: Rolando Villazon
Homepage: Deutsche Grammophon