Had Pergolesi not died young, his name would rank among the most stellar and influential of Italy’s 18th-century composers. Despite the brevity of his life – he died at 26 – Pergolesi created numerous deathless works
In this second album of Claudio Abbado’s Pergolesi Project, the renowned maestro conducts the Missa S. Emidio, Manca la guida al pie, Laudate pueri Dominum, and the Salve Regina in F minor. Abbado’s passion for this music meets these sacred compositions on the exalted level where they were composed
Pergolesi’s church music is distinguished not just by lively declamation of the text but by the melodic charm of the solo sections, which contrast richly to the choral passages
To be released in February, this album showcases the talents of such singers as Rachel Harnisch, Sara Mingardo, Veronica Cangemi, and Teresa Romano, who bring exceptional vocal and interpretive gifts to this deceptively simple repertoire
The Stabat Mater album released in August 2009 got excellent reviews in the international press: “Abbado’s commitment to period style is never in doubt . . . He has exceptional soloists: Rachel Harnisch and Sara Mingardo in the Stabat, ravishing in the harmonic suspensions of their duets; a lovely toned Julia Kleiter in the Salve; and the exemplary Giuliano Carmignola in the rarely recorded Violin Concerto, a little masterpiece, all but forgotten by the mainstream.” (The Times)
Missa S. Emidio - 1. Kyrie
Missa S. Emidio - 2. Christe
Missa S. Emidio - 3. Kyrie
Missa S. Emidio - 4. Gloria in excelsis Deo
Missa S. Emidio - 5. Laudamus te
Missa S. Emidio - 6. Gratias agimus tibi
Missa S. Emidio - 7. Domine Deus
Missa S. Emidio - 8. Qui tollis peccata mundi
Missa S. Emidio - 9. Qui tollis peccata mundi
Missa S. Emidio - 10. Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris
Missa S. Emidio - 11. Quoniam tu solus sanctus
Missa S. Emidio - 12. Cum Sancto Spiritu
Salve Regina in F minor - 1. Salve Regina
Salve Regina in F minor - 2. Ad te clamamus
Salve Regina in F minor - 3. Eia ergo
Salve Regina in F minor - 4. Et Jesum benedictum
Salve Regina in F minor - 5. O clemens, o pia
Manca la guida al piè - È dover che le luci
Manca la guida al piè
Laudate pueri Dominum - 1. Laudate pueri
Laudate pueri Dominum - 2. A solis ortu
Laudate pueri Dominum - 3. Excelsus super omnes
Laudate pueri Dominum - 4. Quis sicut Dominus
Laudate pueri Dominum - 5. Suscitans a terra
Laudate pueri Dominum - 6. Gloria patri
Laudate pueri Dominum - 7. Sicut erat in principio
12th February 2010
****
“Abbado has gathered a fine group of singers, who sing with purity and ripe expressiveness”
11th March 2010
“The performance finds Abbado, his Orchestra Mozart and the Italian Swiss Radio Chorus on terrific form...Mingardo (fabulous)...is overwhelming in the dark, bitter Salve Regina in F minor”
May 2010
“Diego Fasolis's Swiss-Italian choir is on good form...Sara Mingardo and Veronica Cangemi combine to good effect...Those who found Abbado's Stabat Mater to be nondescript will be delighted to discover a surer sense of purpose and stylistic articulation in this rewarding collection.”
May 2010
****
“Veronica Cangemi has a bright edge to her tone...Sara Mingardo is superb, her long first note of Domine Deus an object lesson in the subtle manipulation of vocal colour...Rachel Harnisch is an exuberant soprano soloist, with an effortless top D...A fine tribute to an extraordinary genius.”
Charlotte Gardner
23rd February 2010
“...a cleanly executed period style, rendered luxuriously beautiful thanks to the warmth and easy fluidity of the playing...Veronica Cangemi’s honeyed, pure-toned performance plays on every emotional nuance, with wonderfully controlled ornamentation. All in all, another Pergolesi disc from Abbado that feels like musical perfection. Just go listen, and enjoy.”
2011 edition
“Abbado's account (this second recording) with splendid soloists (the fresh-voiced Rachel Harnisch and Sara Mingardo) with her dark, sonorous timbre) brings great intensity and ardour to this piece, and he secures alive playing with something of a period-instrument character from the modern-instrument orchestra - this without diminishing religious sentiment.”
Click on any of the works listed above for alternative recordings.
Missa S. Emidio - 1. Kyrie
