COMPOSERS: Bononcini,Caldara & A Scarlatti,D Scarlatti,Lotti,Pergolesi
LABELS: Decca
ALBUM TITLE: Collection: Italian Liturgical Music
WORKS: Stabat mater; Magnificat in C
PERFORMER: Soloists; Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge/George Guest; Choir of King’s College, Cambridge/David Willcocks; Schütz Choir of London/Roger Norrington
CATALOGUE NO: 443 868-2 ADD (1966-80)
This anthology of devotional music from 18th-century Venice and Naples offers an interesting and varied programme. Best known is Pergolesi’s Stabat mater, but the settings by Domenico Scarlatti and Bononcini stand well in comparison. The motets by Lotti, Caldara and Alessandro Scarlatti are real discoveries; Norrington’s performances of the latter are particularly fine. Guest’s Pergolesi suffers from a focus of sound which makes the interpretation seem somewhat generalised. However, all these performances give pleasure, while the music is melodically fresh and rhythmically vital. Terry Barfoot
Pergolesi,D Scarlatti, Bononcini, Lotti, Caldara & A Scarlatti
This anthology of devotional music from 18th-century Venice and Naples offers an interesting and varied programme. Best known is Pergolesi’s Stabat mater, but the settings by Domenico Scarlatti and Bononcini stand well in comparison. The motets by Lotti, Caldara and Alessandro Scarlatti are real discoveries; Norrington’s performances of the latter are particularly fine. Guest’s Pergolesi suffers from a focus of sound which makes the interpretation seem somewhat generalised. However, all these performances give pleasure, while the music is melodically fresh and rhythmically vital. Terry Barfoot
Our rating
4
Published: January 20, 2012 at 3:16 pm