Debut Album “Rachel” Release Day!
Today (April 8th) marks the release of American soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen’s self-titled debut album of opera arias and scenes, recorded with Sony Classical International! Rachel showcases the depth and variety of her incredible voice which leading French daily Le Monde cites as “without a doubt one of the most impressive voices in the opera world.” Opéra Magazine has already awarded the album a “Diamond,” hailing Rachel as “…one of the most gifted singers of our era…” and lauded the album as “…confirming a rare talent, capable of rivaling examples from the past, without being content to simply follow in their footsteps. On this disc, there is a personal mark that is perfect in every instance.”
The new album sees this immensely gifted singer explore a wide swathe of repertoire to showcase her versatility, vocal depth, and artistry. An intimate portrait of the artist at this stage in her career, each piece included on the album was carefully selected by Rachel as she presents a collection of her favorite arias and scenes that she hopes will move the listener as they have moved her. Her dramatic expressivity and vocal virtuosity are both on display in full force, in arias ranging from the album’s centerpiece Verdi scenes, with weighty roles such as Desdemona in Otello, Leonora in Il Trovatore, and Violetta in La Traviata, to ‘Vilja-Lied’ from Lehár’s operetta The Merry Widow and the aforementioned ‘Song to the Moon’ from Dvořák’s Rusalka.
Recorded in Teatro Carlo Felice in Genova, Rachel is joined on the recording by the Orchestra Della Fondazione Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova under conductor Frédéric Chaslin, and features a duet with superstar tenor Jonas Kaufmann, and guest appearances by soprano Olivia Kahler and tenor Giovanni Sala.
Listen to the album on your preferred streaming platform, or order today here!