Customer Reviews

Pergolesi · Scarlatti - Stabat Mater / Bertagnolli · Mingardo · Concerto Italiano · Alessandrini

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It is impossible to expect an unimaginative or uninvolved performance from Concerto Italiano. Alessandrini and his 2 marvelous divas perform both Stabat Maters with white-hot passion and fervour. Gemma Bertagnolli and Sara Mingardo nead not fear comparisons with anyone, both of them have great voices and know very well what they are singing. Even the recent Bonney/Scholl recording on DECCA comes in second place to this OPUS111 offering.

Pergolesi's Stabat Mater is often played too grossly, with the usual over-vibrato from the singers and the impassiveness of the orchestra.

This interpretation is not like the others, it is soft and calm. From the first movement (taken very slowly) you are driven into a peaceful atmosphere that will awake all sorts of emotions.

Listen to it, even if it's only for the last movement (Quando corpus morietur) that will make you cry. To dry your tears, the last Amen will bring you serenity.

This recording is AMAZING. I heard Pergolesi Sabat Mater on a BBC station, and almost had an accident trying to frantically write down who and what it was.

I bought it, and was blown away! This recording is absolute finesse. So I also bought one for my dad. Who was also blown away! And he has pretty fine taste in music and opera, far better than mine.

Then when playing it at Christmas, I found out from my nephew, who majored in Music, that this is probably THE recording to have of Sabat Mater -- Rinaldo Asessandrini, with Gemma Bertagnolli and Sara Mingardo. I was thrilled at my accidental good fortune!

ENJOY!