In this program, settings of the Stabat Mater by three Italian composers are featured.
The text dates back to the Middle Ages, but the author is not certain. Until the Council of Trent (1545-1563), it was part of the liturgy, and it returned to it in 1727. During that time, however, composers set it to music frequently.
The first two works date from that period. The third work dates from 1770, on the cusp of the Baroque and Classical periods. These versions differ greatly in style, showing how composers treated this text in many different ways.
Antonio Caldara (ca. 1671-1736)
- Stabat Mater in G Valérie Gabail, soprano. Cécile Eloir, alto. Guy De Mey, tenor. Hubert Claessens, bass. Choeur de Chambre de Namur, Les Agrémens conducted by Wieland Kuijken (cd: “Stabat Mater – Magnificat – Missa Dolorosa” – Arsis Classics AS-00-A-64002-C, 2001)
Giovanni Salvatore (?-1688?) 2. Stabat Mater for 5 voices and basso continuo Cappella de’ Turchini conducted by Antonio Florio (cd: Provenzale, “Passione” – Opus 111 OPS 30-194, 1996)
Quirino Gasparini (1721-1778) 3. Stabat Mater Isabelle Poulenard and Isabelle Desrochers, soprano. Stradivaria conducted by Daniel Cuiller (cd: “Stabat Mater – Abos, Tartini, Gasparini” – Cypres Records CYP1639, 2003)
addition: Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805)
- From String Quartet in G, op. 52,3: adagio Sarasa Ensemble (cd: “Stabat Mater” – Naxos 8.573958, 2019)
Image: Quirino Gasparini (source: L’Eco di Bergamo)
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