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 Pergolesi and A Scarlatti –
Stabat Mater
Gemma Bertagnolli - soprano
Sara Mingardo - contralto
Concerto Italiano – cond Rinaldo Alessandrini
Naïve OP 30441 – 1998 – 80 minutes
Early in the 18th century, when Alessandro Scarlatti
was resident in Naples,
the Cavalieri delli Vergine dei Dolori engaged him
to provide a setting of
the Stabat Mater as the focal point of their Lenten
devotions. A few
years later they discarded it in favour of a new
commission from Pergolesi,
whose works had almost overnight become the “hot
ticket” of the day.
Pergolesi’s version was immediately hailed as a
significant masterpiece and
milestone in the development of religious music,
whilst Scarlatti’s was
consigned to the obscurity, surviving in the form of
a copy in a Florence
library.
This CD provides listeners with the unique
opportunity to hear and compare
the two works, presented in reverse order of
composition.
Melody is central to Pergolesi’s approach with the
voices intertwining in
solo or combination and floating delicately above
the instrumental line. It
would be a worthy contender for inclusion in a
compilation entitled “the
most beautiful music in the world” and yet it also
provides a faithful
reflection of the agony of the sorrowing mother.
The fact that the
composer was virtually on his own death bed when he
wrote the piece may have
contributed to its heart-rending quality.
Scarlatti’s piece is more solid in character,
thickly orchestrated, yet
presenting the words with great clarity – an example
of classical polyphony
at its finest. It ends with an unexpectedly
uplifting Amen as the voices
alternate in splendid intricacy.
These are delightfully expressive performances by
period specialists with
the voices of Gemma Bertagnolli and Sara Mingardo
blending attractively.
Rinaldo Alessandrini takes the Pergolesi at a
fairly brisk pace, explained
in his descriptive notes as following the
instructions of the composer’s
autographed score.
It’s a very pleasing combination, and provides a
full 80 minutes of music.
Serena Fenwick
See the general introduction and listings for this series
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