In opera, specific voice types are often associated with certain types of characters. Numerous and diverse associations exist also for the bass voice, who can be a father, a villain, an elderly man, a religious figure, a comic character—or, indeed, a combination of the above. One recurring association for this voice type, however, deserves particular attention: that with evil, wicked, even diabolical characters. It is on that immensely fascinating association that this collection of arias is focused. The nineteen selections - composed by Mozart, Beethoven, Weber, Wagner, Meyerbeer, Berlioz, Gounod, Offenbach, Verdi, Boito, Mussorgsky, Stravinsky and Getty -take us on a journey through a period spanning some two hundred years, exploring how composers working in diverse national and institutional contexts and writing in an array of styles and genres exploited the bass voice to engage with the depiction of such characters.

This colourful repertoire is sung by the esteemed American bass-baritone Kevin Short, whose powerful voice is as sensuous as it is sinister. Short is accompanied by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille, led by its Music Director Lawrence Foster. Earlier this year, this orchestra and conductor were hailed for their PENTATONE releases of Martina Double Concertos and A Certain Slant of Light.

• Beethoven: Fidelio, Op. 72
• Beethoven: Ha! Welch ein Augenblick! (from Fidelio)
• Beethoven: Lieder (6), Op. 75
• Beethoven: Mephistos Flohlied, Op. 75, 3
• Berlioz: Devant la maison (from La Damnation de Faust)
• Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24
• Berlioz: Voici des roses (Air de Méphistophélès)
• Boito: Mefistofele
• Boito: Son lo Spirito che nega (from Mefistofele)
• Getty: Mephistopheles to Faust
• Gounod: Faust
• Gounod: Le veau d'or est toujours debout (from Faust)
• Gounod: Vous qui faîtes l'endormie (from Faust)
• Meyerbeer: Robert Le Diable
• Meyerbeer: Voici donc les debris… Nonnes qui reposez (from Robert le Diable)
• Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail, K384
• Mozart: Oh, wie will ich triumphieren (from Die Entführung aus dem Serail)
• Mozart: Wer ein Liebchen hat gefunden (from Die Entführung aus dem Serail)
• Mussorgsky: Mephistopheles' Song of the Flea
• Offenbach: Dans les rôles d’amoureux (from Les Contes d’Hoffmann)
• Offenbach: Les Contes d'Hoffmann
• Stravinsky: I burn! I freeze! (from The Rake's Progress)
• Stravinsky: The Rake's Progress
• Verdi: I Lombardi alla prima crociata
• Verdi: Vergini!...Sciagurata! Hai tu creduto (from I Lombardi)
• Wagner: Bin ich nun frei? (from Das Rheingold)
• Wagner: Das Rheingold
• Weber: Der Freischütz
• Weber: Schweig, schweig (from Der Freischütz)