It wasn’t that long ago that a recital like the one given by countertenor Carlo Vistoli and pianist Giulio Zappa to open the Park Avenue Armory’s 2026/27 concert series was the American gold standard: Baroque songs and arias, a taste of the Classical, a turn toward the Romantic, some intimate Belle Époque exotica and, finally, something daring – a popular American song or two.
That formula eventually began to seem somewhat fusty as more personal narratives became the norm. Vistoli and Zappa, however, have breathed new life into it with stunning vocalism, exceptional musicianship and exquisite taste.
