Who sings Vivaldi's "Armatae face et anguibus" best? 

Didn't anyone mention the awesome performance of Léa Desandre? I can't believe it.

Roberta Invernizzi is absolutely brilliant with unmatched precision of vocal control.

I also enjoy the Lea Desandre's performing!! She's brilliant!!!

In my opinion, Julia Lezhneva does the best performance. The Word is harmony, balance. Her voice turns into another musical instrument, the best, in favour of that musical piece

Julia Lejneva and Bartoli ,of course!

Lea Desandre is the most convincing in her mastery of the music, particularly in her fortissimo attack but also in the lower register.

ALL are AMAZING!!! If forced to choose I will say Lea Desandre.

For me definitely Julia Leshneva sings the best. 👏👏👏

Desandre and Lezhneva did the best.

They all have and express something special. Vivaldi was such a genius that there will be zillions of magnificent variations of "Armatae face et anguibus". Around 1716 for Juditha Triumphans. No surprise that Bach was so moved when he read Vivaldi's compositions for the first time.

Julia Lezhneva, absolutely fabulous!!

Lea Desandre most beautiful performance, Cecilia Bartoli most powerful.

Definitely LEA!!!!

And bartoli always forces the visuals of her performance to this aria to make it unique

Trovo che la Desandre sia impeccabile, un piacere sublime la sua interpretazione. D'altro canto la non perfezione accademica per favorire l'interpretazione e la furia della Bartoli, mi trasporta dentro la tragedia. Bartoli assolutamente divina.

Julia Lezhneva sings marvellously!!! ❤️❤️❤️ I like also Roberta Invernizzi’s interpretation, which is different from Julia’s, the tempo is not as fast, but very beautifully sung too❤️❤️❤️

LEA DESANDRE !!!!! Quelle merveilleuse révélation. Brillantissime collaboration avec W.Christie, P.Agnew et toutes ses initiatives géniales. Bravo Léa !🥰

It's like trying to compare oranges and apples - they are all amazing artists in their own personal expression and they all bring something distinctive to the table. That is the whole "point" of art - to touch us, move us, bring into another world where time stops. We can prefer one over another, which is also valid, but there is no real competition here, kudos to all of them. 👏👏👏

Julia Lezhneva

Lea Desandre

Im playing bass in a metal band.I watch and hear carefully the video many many times.All these ladies are marvelous,with such beautiful voices and techniques.But if i had to choose s singer, without doubt i would choose Karina Gauvin or Cecilia Bartolli cause i think they are the most emotional and most furious.When i heard them i told myself.Damm!They are ready to cut off Holofernes head.

I have no way to say, whichone is the best. Voices and singing techniques are blameless. All are absolutely phantastic, each in her own way.

Lea Desandre!!!

I like them all, because each one has particular vocal characteristics and each one expresses a different musical sensibility.

Roberta has the purest vocal runs n the best tempo

Lea desandre The best

hi! all very excellent - it's a hard choice, more dependent on personal preference. you chose singers of astounding talent - i did not know that women could sing w/ such articulated strength! Vivaldi is demanding to say the very least! Karina is the most pleasurable to my ears however if you must know, there you are! this Italian opera is amazing!

00:00 Roberta Invernizzi 3:01 Lea Desandre 6:08 Karina Gauvin 9:20 Delphine Galou 12:33 Vivica Genaux 15:44 Magdalena Kozena 18:57 Cecilia Bartoli 21:56 Julia Lezhneva

My top-3: 1. Lea Desandre - her interpretation is so passionate and this aria suits her timbre at lower notes very well. 2. Roberta Invernizzi - unthinkable precision in coloraturas. 3. Vivica Genaux - I like her phrasing, but still prefer Lea Desandre's version

I've never heard this song until now but what fun listening to it numerous times in a row. I really appreciate your channel. Thanks for sharing your passions!

LEA ♥

Resounding and resolutely Karina Gauvin for the win. Wonderful legato, pin point staccati, correct style and approach. Both musically and emotionally. Not to mention a gorgeous natural round tone not over darkened or too covered. By any metric Superb.

1. Cecilia Bartoli 2. Julia Lezhneva (this was close!!) 3. Roberta Invernizzi 4. Vivica Genaux 5. Lea Desandre 6. Karina Gauvin 7. Delphine Galou 8. Magdalena Kožena This was a rough list to sort out by how I felt what they brought to this famed aria. Cecilia was my introduction to this aria. Julia is a great singer and love her. Roberta and Vivica were like Cecilia and Julia and Magdalena my introduction to baroque singing. I love them. I never heard of Lea, Karina, or Delphine, but I do now! Why was Magdalena last on the list? She isn't. Her rendition suits her voice and range and made it uniquely wonderful to listen to.

I'm not able to choose a winner from this incredible group - only my subjective opinion: Cecilia Bartoli, Lea Desandre, Julia Lezhneva, Delphine Galou - not particularly in that order. They are outstanding!

Bartoli and Karin Gauvin have the strongest voices

Invernizzi, Bartoli. It's an incredibly difficult piece.

They are all wonderful. Why pit them against one another? This is not the World Wrestling Federation. Just enjoy each of them for their consummate artistry.

The first one (Roberta Invernizzi) has the most agility. It seems so easy for her to sing that fast. Lea Desandre feels like she is really telling you a story. Very believable and personal. Karina Gauvin has incredible presence on the higher notes. She sounds very loud in a positive way. Delphine Galou unfortunately has lower recording quality but it is still apparent that her tone is softer and full bodied. Vivica Genaux is neutral and pleasant to listen to with probably the most clear pronunciation of them all. She feels more professional than most others. Magdalena Kozena is like a clockwork. Neutral sound and a classic sound. Cecilia Bartoli's orchestra gave it all and she did too. Very powerful. You can hear the distress the piece tries to convey. Well acted. Julia Lezhneva diplays once again her incredible control over her own voice. The most consistent trills of them all. All of them are way beyond the average you can expect in an Opera on a regular weekend. For a concert my favorite would be Roberta Invernizzi. Delightful to listen to. In an Opera my choice is Cecilia Bartoli because I want climaxes to be very pronounced and have feelings conveyed rather than clean singing. If I were a director I'd cast Genaux or Kozena. They seem to be the ones that don't need a single suggestion or correction and still play and sing perfectly. Mature and precise while listening to the orchestra. Last but not least if I were to listen to the recordings I'd choose Lea Desandre. Highest sound quality and best orchestra.

All are awesome here but if I have to choose would be Lea D. Or Julia! BARTOLI should not be here in this list cause she is already DIVINA! ❤💯

Invernizzi, Bartoli. Italian women have the right temperament for this kind of aria. The only one out of the italian group is Karina Gauvin, who kills this aria. Right temperament, right voice. Everything. She's in a class of her own. So underrated, yet, one of the best singers around.

Lea Desandre. La mejor interpretación de Vivaldi.

My favorite is Karina Gauvin. Her coloratura is very smooth while still being very precise, but more importantly, her voice sounds dark and menacing. In my opinion, this piece needs a voice that either is dramatic or can sing in a more dramatic style. This piece also needs a voice with excellent chest voice coordination and that is also something Karina Gauvin does well.

To me the best Vivaldi's interpretations are Cecilia Bartoli's ones. But of course they are all incredible. But she really has got the vibe.

0:00 Roberta Invernizzi 3:00 Léa Desandre 6:10 Karina Gauvin 9:20 Delphine Galou 12:35 Vivica Genaux

1. Cecília

1- Roberta. 2 - Cecilia. 3- Emőke.

Desandre has clarity like no other.

I enjoyed too Julia Lezhneva

Cecilia both for passion, vocal strength and overall performance.

Emoke Barath ... superbe !

1. Desandre (exceptional technique and sound of voice) what a talent! , Bartoli (great acting d pronouncing) icon! , Kozena (great Kadenza) special mention because of her elegant version: Genaux Missing: Emoke Barath

Lea DeSandre without a shadow of doubt. But the piece is so energetic that singing it alone is proof of talent.

Lea - No doubt about it!

Different, amazing expressions of same beautifullness. My personal preference Karina Gauvin and Léa Desandre!,,

Heureusement qu'il peut y avoir beaucoup d'interprétations différentes ! L'idée d'en faire un concours me semble bizarre. La question devrait être : quelle interprétation préférez-vous aujourd'hui ?

Vivica genaux

Julia Lezhneva - expression without overdoing it. Not too much strain and posing, just to the point. And also Karina Gauvin - very rounded, fresh and balanced. Bartoli is so agitated and so decisively humorous, that she almost scares me away ...

Karina Gauvin is The Best!

Elles sont toutes bien chacune dans leur style de voix

Lea, of course.

Lea Desandre - absolutely & unequivocally☝️

Lea, Lea, Lea and forever Lea!!!

Lea Desandre IMHO

Quanto amo quest’aria, quanto amo la Juditha e, a mio parere, nessuno mai supererà Roberta nel cantarla; a seguire Vivica Genaux e Karina Gauvin. È sempre una gioia quando pubblichi video Daniel 💖 Alessandra

Roberta Invernizzi, Karina Gauvin and Julia Leshneva are the best for me.

Bartoli >>>> Gauvin >> Lezhneva > Desandre = Invernizzi Con Bártoli estoy sumergido en la tragedia, inigualable interpretación, más allá de su caudal vocal y excepcional voz. Desde Buenos Aires - Argentina

Delphine Galou certainly has a unique technique. She sings like a countertenor that never learned to use their chest voice. She jumps the octave on all of the cadences that end where the lower register is supposed to be.

Lea

Perché scegliere! Ognuna di queste artiste d'opera a la propria voce è tecnica di canto ed è giusto che sia così. Quindi non facciamo classifiche, sono tutte brave e meritano un bel, bravissime!!!

Agree with another observation. They are all different but wonderful on their interpretation. Just enjoy!

For me, Roberta Invernizzi and Karina Gauvin are the best. Hands down

Lea Desandre has the absolute best performance of the suggested here. Her articulation is on point, and she dramatizes the piece really well. I think she sounds the most relaxed of all the performers, which is hard when singing this piece.

Julia Lezneva definitely

# 1 is no doubt Roberta! I'd give # 2 to Julia. #3 is Lea; very passionate, the final note is absolutely compelling but to me it feels like the rhythm is somewhat, err... imperfect. Probably it's only me, sorry Lea...

Roberta Invernizzi by far

Roberta does the best job in tempo vowel purity and vocal run cohesion. Bartoli makes the impression since no one can ignore her fierce face insane eyes n body language that complements her unique technique

Julia 😺

Not the most precise but overall Desandre’s version does it for me

Iea desandre

Roberta invernizzi is the best!!!

Karina Gauvin, without a doubt, because there's a NATURAL strength and emotionality pervading her performance that just isn't there in the others, as talented as the singers may be in their own right.

Too many to mention,all women are beautiful and at times when they speak an sing .I my lyfe is worth living.

Roberta Invernizzi, then come the rest.

Que encontro fantástico dessas belas vozes. Um brinde aos céus por termos essas maravilhas na terra.

Karina Gauvin💗

At first I thought I disliked Bartoli's version, but a minute afterwards my hair just stood on edge and well... Queen! 21:37 is something otherworldly as well

Dans ce chef-d'œuvre de l'art baroque, cet aria, en particulier, est une merveille d'inventivité et de virtuosité ! Vivaldi avait vraiment d'excellentes élèves à l'Ospedale de la Pietà, pour pouvoir leur confier de tels rôles... *Comparer* ici, différentes interprètes est vraiment interpellant : si toutes font preuve d'une belle virtuosité, j'apprécie surtout Mmes. Kožená et Galou (impressions subjectives, bien sûr !)

Even with the poor recording I have to give it to Delphine. She just has a voice made for Vivaldi. That said, Cecilia and Julia are incredible and there aren't really any stinkers in the bunch. Thanks for posting

Everyone was stunning! Truly. The general is avenged.

Without question, Lea Desandre every time leaves the competition far behind. 👌👍👏 And second place goes to Julia Lezhnova!

Roberta Invernizzi and Carina Gauvin are the best

Roberta Invernizzi! she nails it

Lea Desandre et Delphine Galou

Invernizzi is the best. Excellent..

I think a glaring omission from this compilation of 'the best' is Maria Cristina Kiehr on the Hyperion full recording. Not the most characterised performance, but the precision of her coloratura is spellbinding. That said, not surprising her version is not on here - Hyperion seem to be vigilant about not sharing their recordings on RU-vid - but do check it out if you have the opportunity. Thank you for the compilation though!

Imo Bartoli..she sings it like the emotions and with those the vocal comes naturally

IMHO: 1.Lea Desandre (all the way!) 2.Karina Gauvin 3.Roberta Invernizzi 4.Magdalena Kozena

In my opinion. 1 Gauvin (most natural), 2 Roberta (gracious), 3 Lea (impressive). But they are all good and very different

Julia Lezhneva et Lea Desandre

Vivica Genaux просто супер исполнение, красивый тембр голоса.Она неповторима! Браво Vuvika!