Cecilian Vespers [Hybrid SACD] [SACD]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This delectable work, premiered in 1721, shows composer Alessandro Scarlatti at his most brilliantly varied. Solo passages are punctuated with choral interjections and vice-versa, an antiphon duet for oboe and the lovely soprano Suzanne Ryden at first seems like one between two singers; Scarlatti fools the ear. Soprano Dominique Labelle brings a grace to her fluent singing in both solo and ensemble passages which manages to be energetic and tender at once. The setting of the Dixit Dominus never rests; a tenor solo is interrupted by the chorus; an intricate soprano-soprano-counter-tenor trio in the "Dominus a dextris" is rendered even more complex by the chorus, which then, in an entirely different meter, nervously jumps its way to the end and then melts into a gentle baritone solo, with long, legato lines. Scarlatti relies on dance rhythms throughout and Nicholas McGegan leads the Philharmonia Baroque and Philharmonia Chorale superbly through every change of tempo and texture. The recording of the Vespers was made live in Berkeley in April of 2004 (its North American premiere); CD 2 adds another forty minutes of prime Scarlatti recorded in the studio. This is a must have--beautiful, fascinating music, ideally performed and recorded. --Robert Levine

Amazon.com

This delectable work, premiered in 1721, shows composer Alessandro Scarlatti at his most brilliantly varied. Solo passages are punctuated with choral interjections and vice-versa, an antiphon duet for oboe and the lovely soprano Suzanne Ryden at first seems like one between two singers; Scarlatti fools the ear. Soprano Dominique Labelle brings a grace to her fluent singing in both solo and ensemble passages which manages to be energetic and tender at once. The setting of the Dixit Dominus never rests; a tenor solo is interrupted by the chorus; an intricate soprano-soprano-counter-tenor trio in the "Dominus a dextris" is rendered even more complex by the chorus, which then, in an entirely different meter, nervously jumps its way to the end and then melts into a gentle baritone solo, with long, legato lines. Scarlatti relies on dance rhythms throughout and Nicholas McGegan leads the Philharmonia Baroque and Philharmonia Chorale superbly through every change of tempo and texture. The recording of the Vespers was made live in Berkeley in April of 2004 (its North American premiere); CD 2 adds another forty minutes of prime Scarlatti recorded in the studio. This is a must have--beautiful, fascinating music, ideally performed and recorded. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Fifty Six Vespers Honoring the Patron of Music: St. Cecilia.......2006-04-03

For an absolutely enchanting experience this 2 CD set of all of the vespers composed by Alessandro Scarlatti honoring the essence of music - St. Cecilia - is inimitable. Here is more Scarlatti than you ever knew was available and in the entire 56 works there is not a weak link.

Nicholas McGegan conducts the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale with a bevy of superb soloists - Susanne Ryden, Dominique Labelle, Michael Slattery who makes a very impressive debut - a tenor with style and flair whose career is young but very promising, Ryland Angel, Gonzalo X. Ruiz and Neal Davis - in lilting and dramatic performances, each one fresh and inventive, and each one performed with McGegan's usual penchant for understanding period music.

The recorded sound is superb: the first CD was recorded during a live performance and the second CD is a studio production. But the sonics of both are superb. This is music to transport us to another era and reinforces the fact that Scarlatti was a brilliant, forward-looking composer. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, April 06

Glorious celebration of the patron saint of music.......2005-02-03

A. Scarlatti's vespers for St Cecilia's Day are given a wonderfully alert live performance by Nic McGegan and the Philharmonia Barqoue. Nic's specialization in Scarlatti's dramatic choral works pays off brilliantly here with some superb contributions from the soloists including the stellar soprano Dominique Labbelle

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