Track Listing

1. Stabat mater, for soprano, alto, strings & organ in F major: No. 1, "Stabat Mater"
2. Stabat mater, for soprano, alto, strings & organ in F major: No. 2, "Cuius animam"
3. Stabat mater, for soprano, alto, strings & organ in F major: No. 3, "O quam tristis"
4. Stabat mater, for soprano, alto, strings & organ in F major: No. 4, "Quae moerebat"
5. Stabat mater, for soprano, alto, strings & organ in F major: No. 5, "Quis est homo"
6. Stabat mater, for soprano, alto, strings & organ in F major: No. 6, "Vidit suum dulcem Natum"
7. Stabat mater, for soprano, alto, strings & organ in F major: No. 7, "Eia Mater"
8. Stabat mater, for soprano, alto, strings & organ in F major: No. 8, "Fac ut ardeat"
9. Stabat mater, for soprano, alto, strings & organ in F major: No. 9, "Sancta Mater"
10. Stabat mater, for soprano, alto, strings & organ in F major: No. 10, "Fac ut portem"
11. Stabat mater, for soprano, alto, strings & organ in F major: No. 11, "Inflammatus et accensus"
12. Stabat mater, for soprano, alto, strings & organ in F major: No. 12, "Quando Corpus morietur" / No. 13, "Amen"
13. Salve regina, for (mezzo-)soprano, strings & organ in C minor: No. 1, Salve Regina
14. Salve regina, for (mezzo-)soprano, strings & organ in C minor: No. 2, Ad te clamamus
15. Salve regina, for (mezzo-)soprano, strings & organ in C minor: No. 3, Eja ergo
16. Salve regina, for (mezzo-)soprano, strings & organ in C minor: No. 4, Et Jesum
17. Salve regina, for (mezzo-)soprano, strings & organ in C minor: No. 5, O clemens

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32558 in Music
• Released on: 1989-10-06
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Album Details
Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music Here Offer a Spirited, Colorful, and Certainly One of the Most Unique Performances of Pergolesi's Most Beloved Sacred Settings. For Instance Hogwood Eschews the Traditional Choir Entirely Heightening the Roles of Soloists. Having Been in Countless Recordings Together Previous to These 1988 Sessions, Soprano Emma Kirkby and Counter-tenor James Bowman Rise to the Occasion Famously Delivering Highly Emotional, Tonally Pure, Captivating Performances Throughout. Decca's Well-balanced Sound is Crisp, Clear, and Without Any Trace of Edginess Typical of Original Instrument Recordings at the Time.

Amazon.com
For two centuries, Pergolesi's Stabat Mater for soprano, alto, and strings has been a legend as much as a piece of music; Pergolesi literally finished the work on his deathbed, so how could it be otherwise? Fortunately, in a good performance such as this one, the music lives up to the myth. Soloists Emma Kirkby and James Bowman, leading lights of the 1980s Baroque revival, have always evoked polarized reactions: traditional opera buff types generally detest them (they should try version with Margaret Marshall and Lucia Valentini-Terrani), while early- music lovers find their voices ideal for this repertory. Kirkby's uniquely pure, clear, and flexible voice suits this music very well indeed; Bowman's voice is more controversial, and he does show some discomfort on the highest notes, but he's an expressive musician; both singers have a fine sense of line and impeccable tuning--Pergolesi's many dramatic suspensions are especially effective. Christopher Hogwood leads a sensitive performance, not radical in any way but quite persuasive. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews

The Best Recording I Have Heard
I have listened to at least 5 other recordings of Pergolesi's Stabat Mater and found the version by L'Oiseau-Lyre the best by far. I am a singer myself, although an amateur with experience in serious choirs such as the Academic Choir Tone Tomsic from Slovenia (won the European Grand Prix 2002 at the 14th choral competition in Arezzo, Italy) and have a preference for a clear voice with a very careful and controlled use of vibrato. This recording was the only one I could find that would fulfill my requirements. Besides, Bowman's performance is really outstanding, and you can really feel the tension (in a good sense) on those high notes. I believe that the use of countertenor brings a very special warm feeling to high notes that I was not able to find in the recordings with an alto (low female voice). It has a certain intimate touch that I certainly prefer. This recording is without a doubt a must for a serious music lover.

Stabat Mater and Salve Regina
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi was one of the most remarkable composers of the Baroque period. Despite his extremely brief career (he died of tuberculosis at 26 years of age) he left an impressive body of work that includes some of the finest pieces of sacred music ever written. Two of his most famous works (Stabat Mater for soprano and alto and Salve Regina for soprano in C minor) are included in this recording.

Emma Kirkby captures the poignancy of these pieces with outstanding ability and delivers two of her best performances ever. She's an exceptional musician - unaffected, subtle, sincere and technically flawless. James Bowman also provides a very fine performance but the Stabat Mater is more of a challenge for him and he sounds a little overwhelmed sometimes. However, the interplay between both singers is amazing. Salve Regina is an equally beautiful piece and Emma Kirkby gives another wonderful performance. Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music are as stunning as ever, they manage to bring freshness and immediacy to the Stabat Mater - no small feat considering the rather solemn subject matter - and the Salve Regina shines with almost preternatural beauty. Pergolesi was a very innovative and daring composer, and these renditions show his works in all their sombre and passionate glory.

Simply, the best CD I own.
...in my 300 CD collection. Genius of Pergolesi, pure harmony plus excellence in Emma's voice, plus James Bowman, a countertenor singing the part of an alto. This is what baroque is about, this is what music is about.