Pergolesi · Scarlatti - Stabat Mater / Bertagnolli · Mingardo · Concerto Italiano · Alessandrini

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Pergolesi's legendary Stabat Mater for solo soprano and alto acquired its mystique early on: not only does it boast striking melodies and harmonies, but the composer finished it just days before dying of tuberculosis at age 26. That irresistibly mythic circumstance, combined with the sacred nature of the text, led to an air of reverence that has surrounded the work for two centuries. It's this reverence that Rinaldo Alessandrini means to strip away, showing us the very theatrical style in which Pergolesi actually wrote. Using only six period string instruments rather than the customary small orchestra, Alessandrini directs a remarkable performance: the very quick or very slow tempos, sudden accents, and dynamic extremes are often surprising but always credible. Alessandro Scarlatti's Stabat Mater, written for the same forces (for the same institution in Naples, in fact) as Pergolesi's setting, is a more temperate piece, with less theatrical intensity but more counterpoint and florid vocal writing. Both soloists have attractive voices (though soprano Bertagnolli shows occasional strain on high notes), with just enough narrow vibrato to appeal to traditional voice fans without alienating early-music lovers. Most importantly, they have the courage and the skill to bring Alessandrini's daring conception off. If you want a conventionally reverent reading, you should try Gillian Fisher and Michael Chance, but this performance really is thrilling. --Matthew Westphal

Pergolesi · Scarlatti - Stabat Mater / Bertagnolli · Mingardo · Concerto Italiano · Alessandrini, Music, Giovanni Pergolesi, Alessandro Scarlatti, Rinaldo Alessandrini, Gemma Bertagnolli, Sara Mingardo, Concerto Italiano, Choral, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Hymn, Orchestral & Symphonic, Solo Voice(s) and Small Ensemble, Vocal
Pergolesi · Scarlatti - Stabat Mater / Bertagnolli · Mingardo · Concerto Italiano · Alessandrini
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • One of the best Stabat Mater
  • Fabulous performance!
 Pergolesi · Scarlatti - Stabat Mater / Bertagnolli · Mingardo · Concerto Italiano · Alessandrini
Giovanni Pergolesi , Alessandro Scarlatti , Rinaldo Alessandrini , Gemma Bertagnolli , Sara Mingardo , and Concerto Italiano
Manufacturer: Opus 111
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by PergolesiAll Works by Pergolesi | Pergolesi, Gio Battista | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by Alessandro ScarlattiAll Works by Alessandro Scarlatti | Scarlatti, Alessandro | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
HymnsHymns | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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  5. Pergolesi: Stabat Mater

ASIN: B00000DLYG
Release Date: 1998-11-10

Amazon.com

Pergolesi's legendary Stabat Mater for solo soprano and alto acquired its mystique early on: not only does it boast striking melodies and harmonies, but the composer finished it just days before dying of tuberculosis at age 26. That irresistibly mythic circumstance, combined with the sacred nature of the text, led to an air of reverence that has surrounded the work for two centuries. It's this reverence that Rinaldo Alessandrini means to strip away, showing us the very theatrical style in which Pergolesi actually wrote. Using only six period string instruments rather than the customary small orchestra, Alessandrini directs a remarkable performance: the very quick or very slow tempos, sudden accents, and dynamic extremes are often surprising but always credible. Alessandro Scarlatti's Stabat Mater, written for the same forces (for the same institution in Naples, in fact) as Pergolesi's setting, is a more temperate piece, with less theatrical intensity but more counterpoint and florid vocal writing. Both soloists have attractive voices (though soprano Bertagnolli shows occasional strain on high notes), with just enough narrow vibrato to appeal to traditional voice fans without alienating early-music lovers. Most importantly, they have the courage and the skill to bring Alessandrini's daring conception off. If you want a conventionally reverent reading, you should try Gillian Fisher and Michael Chance, but this performance really is thrilling. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars One of the best Stabat Mater.......2006-07-25

Pergolesi's Stabat Mater is often played too grossly, with the usual over-vibrato from the singers and the impassiveness of the orchestra.

This interpretation is not like the others, it is soft and calm. From the first movement (taken very slowly) you are driven into a peaceful atmosphere that will awake all sorts of emotions.

Listen to it, even if it's only for the last movement (Quando corpus morietur) that will make you cry. To dry your tears, the last Amen will bring you serenity.

5 out of 5 stars Fabulous performance!.......2000-10-23

It is impossible to expect an unimaginative or uninvolved performance from Concerto Italiano. Alessandrini and his 2 marvelous divas perform both Stabat Maters with white-hot passion and fervour. Gemma Bertagnolli and Sara Mingardo nead not fear comparisons with anyone, both of them have great voices and know very well what they are singing. Even the recent Bonney/Scholl recording on DECCA comes in second place to this OPUS111 offering.

Track Listings:

  1. Perotin
  2. Pops in Space [Soundtrack]
  3. Prokofiev: Symphony No. 7, Op. 131; Sinfonietta, Op. 5/48
  4. Purcell: Dido & Aeneas / Kirkby, Thomas, Nelson, Taverner Players, Parrott
  5. Quiet Music For Quiet Times: Set Your Life To Music [Box set]
  6. Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2 / Sanderling, Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra
  7. Recital de Guitarra, Vol. 1 [Live]
  8. Recoloured Remix Album [Import]
  9. Red Bird/Anticredos
  10. Rosenbaum performs Schubert: Moments Musicaux Op. 94

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

1st//Somebody's Watching [Original recording remastered]

Giuseppe Verdi, Vol. 2

Down Under [CD-single]

Wigville Band

Day After Day: Live [Import] [Limited Edition] [Live]

Don't Play Us Cheap [Original recording remastered] [Import]

De-Lovely [Soundtrack]

Hector Berlioz: Roméo et Juliette

Classic Rock Heroes [Import]

Bruckner: Symphony No. 8 (1887 version, ed. Nowak) / Symphony No. 0 "Die Nullte"

Dedicated to Connie [Live]

De Ahora Palante [Import]

De Madrugada [Import]

Atlanta Bounce

Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar