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She has excelled in Baroque roles that veered from the mainstream, releasing recordings devoted to 19th century soprano Maria Malibran, castrati and composers Antonio Salieri and Agostino Steffani.

Born in Spain, Garcia never stayed in one place for long, moving his wife and three children — Viardot’s older sister, Maria Malibran, became another of the century’s reigning divas — to Italy, Paris and London.

Maria Malibran, the mezzo soprano, rebelled against the censorship and reinserted “vil bastarda” when she sang in the 1835 premiere at La Scala; the opera was then banned in Milan.

Ms. Neuwirth brings an amusing touch of imperious asperity to her role as Malibran, but her naturally dry demeanor seems a strange fit for the character, who was famous for her tempestuousness.

Sillier still is Grisi’s subsequent swoon, which allows Malibran to come to the rescue and sing the offstage music that introduces the soprano’s big mad-scene aria.