Two of today’s most exciting artists on the international opera scene meet for a very personal project. Audax Records has followed Adriana González's career since its beginnings and offered carte blanche to the artist who invited Marina Viotti to join her for this program devised by Iñaki Encina Oyón. A florilegium of French duos by composers such as Fauré, Franck, Chausson, Massenet, Gounod, Lalo, Delibes, Viardot, Widor, Paladilhe, Devéria, Chaminade and Puget, including several world premiere recordings.

Marina Viotti’s first solo recital, ‘Porque existe otro querer’ (Because there’s another lover), combines French and Hispanic romances in an exploration of the chromatic kaleidoscope of love’s feelings.

Christophe Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques make a foray into the Romantic repertoire with this tribute to Pauline Viardot, who was not only the most influential singer of the nineteenth century, but also a pedagogue and composer, whose gifts, personality and incomparable aura made her one of the leading figures of French Romanticism. Together the mezzo-soprano Marina Viotti and Christophe Rousset retrace Pauline Viardot’s versatile career and, taking up her great roles, present a musical portrait of a unique performer, who was unanimously acclaimed by the audiences of her time.

Vincenzo Bellini was among the most important Italian opera composers of the early 19th century, and the quintessential representative of its bel canto tradition. Despite his enduring renown, his official operatic debut Bianca e Gernando was known only in its revised version of Bianca e Fernando until this rediscovery and revival at Bad Wildbad in July 2016. Set in the ducal palace of Agrigento and with its tale of secretive plots and triumph over tyranny, this original version of the opera presents both unknown music and significant differences from the revised version, giving its dramatic shape a distinctive new character.