Boccherini: Stabat Mater (1st version, 1781, for soprano & string orchestra), G.532

The French violinist and composer Jean‐ Baptiste Cartier once said: ‘If God wanted to speak to man through music, he would do so through the works of Haydn; if he wished to listen to music himself, he would choose the works of Boccherini.’ Often considered the finest Italian composer of the Classical era, Luigi Boccherini was not party to the Viennese school of music which was in vogue at the time, and therefore his compositions retain that unmistakable Italian flair, but with modest and subtle brilliance.

His Stabat Mater – written in 1781 and scored for small forces of just soprano and strings – exudes elegance and beauty. While bearing the influence of the Stabat Mater of Pergolesi from 45 years earlier, Boccherini’s composition often delves into the realms of the operatic, thanks to arias such as the passionate and dramatic ‘Quis est homo’ and the agile ‘Cujus animam gementem’.

The Stabat Mater is sung by Italian soprano Barbara Vignudelli, international performer and prizewinner, widely acclaimed for her interpretations of both sacred music and opera. She is joined by the musicians of the Orchestra da Camera ‘Benedetto Marcello’, which is directed by Flavio Emilio Scogna.

Contains notes on the composer and the music.

Sung text included in booklet.

The moving text of the Stabat mater has been an inspiration to many composers from the Renaissance onwards, the text having set to music in the style of every musical period. Luigi Boccherini, a virtuoso cellist and unquestioned master of chamber music, set about composing this religious work with total respect for its identity. The quintet that accompanies the solo soprano possesses all the qualities of balance and homogeneity common to the best chamber music works at the end of the Classical period and the blend between voices and instruments is perfect; Boccherini's profound respect for the text enables him to find the exact musical character of each verse every time.