This time we’ll dip into the world of singing, particularly the kind that whips its devotees into a frenzy and is inseparable from the stars who make it: the world of opera, and in particular, the prima donna.

That term conjures up images of volatile, high-strung women who sing impossibly high notes, cancel their performances on a whim, consort with millionaires, have temper tantrums, frequently explode into tears, require high maintenance and nerves of steel from their producers and co-workers, generally think the world revolves around them – yet are worshiped by a loyal public. The vocalist we’ll hear is sort of your anti-prima donna. More interested in scholarship than sensation: Cecilia Bartoli, whose record sales nonetheless rival those of a pop star. Each of those recordings, in its own right, is remarkable. The music world had to wait two years for the release we’ll focus on this half hour, but it was worth the wait. Once again, Cecilia Bartoli lived up to her reputation for unearthing new and unusual things. Or old and unusual, as this CD focuses on the life and times of a 19th century diva - call her a prima donna if you will - by the name of Maria Malibran. Bjørn Woll spoke with Ms. Bartoli, and his portrait of the artist is presented by Kate Laycock.

All recordings featuring Cecilia Bartoli (mezzo-soprano)

• George Frideric Handel (1685-1759): Un pensiero nemico di pace: aria from the oratorio Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, HWV 46a, with Les Musiciens du Louvre; conductor: Marc Minkowski on 00171 Decca 47569244DH
• Manuel Garcia (1775-1832): Yo que soy contrabandista: caballo from the monodrama El Poeta Calculista, with Elena Vicini (castanets), Claudio Mermoud (guitar) and La Scintilla, Zurich; conductor: Adam Fischer on 00171 Decca 4759078
• Maria Malibran (1808-1836): Rataplan: orchestrated version from "An Actor’s Testament," with La Scintilla, Zurich; conductor: Adam Fischer on 00171 Decca 4759078
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): Voi che sapete cosa e amor from the opera "The Marriage of Figaro," K. 492, with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra; conductor: Daniel Barenboim on 00200 ERATO 2292455012
• Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725): All’arme sì accesi guerrieri: aria from Cantata per la notte di natale (Christmas Cantata), with Les Musiciens du Louvre; conductor: Marc Minkowski on 00171 Decca 47569244DH
• Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837): Air à la Tirolienne avec variations, with Maria Goldschmidt (flute), Robert Pickup (clarinet) and La Scintilla, Zurich; conductor: Adam Fischer on 00171 Decca 4759078
• Vincenzo Bellini (1801-1835): Ah! non giunge uman pensiero from the opera La Sonnambula, with La Scintilla, Zurich; conductor: Adam Fischer on 00171 Decca 4759078