Price: 21,50 €

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Domenico Scarlatti (1685 – 1757)
Stabat Mater, 10-voices and basso continuo

Joao Rodrigues Esteves (app. 1700 – app. 1755)
8-voices Mass

D. Scarlatti’s Stabat Mater should not be mistaken for Pergolese’s. The latter’s composition uses two top voices, Scarlatti’s uses two 5-voice choirs. No comparison is possible. The two choirs produce an exuberant expression and an authority beyond doubt.

Director of the Capella Giulia in Rome’s St Peter’s Basilica, D. Scarlatti (not to be confused with his father, Alessandro), accepted the position of chapel director of the Lisbon Cathedral, being invited to do so by the “musician king”, Joao V.

This is where Esteves probably met Scarlatti. A Portuguese national, formed in Rome by Pittoni, Esteves was the first music director at the Seminario Patriarcal of Lisbon, which was a music school and not a seminary. Esteves wrote nothing but church music and almost solely for 4 voices, twice 4 voices and continuo. As concerns his style, Esteves’ work is much like that, strictly polyphonic, of his fellow-countryman Joao Rebelo (1610 – 1661), but later becomes more homophonic, concerted, as the time required.
This style can be found in the double-choir mass recorded in this disk. The mass is beautifully impressive and invites prayers.

The recording is remarkable. Erik Van Nevel is equal to his repute.
The booklet with the CD is interesting, and is worthy of a thorough reading.

Ensemble Vocal & Instrumental Currende

(Solistes : Elisabeth Hermans, soprano & Jan van Elsacker, ténor - Lidewij Scheifes, violoncelle - Jacques van der Meer, violone [contrebasse de viole] - Herman Stinders, orgue)

Director: Erik van Nevel

Contenu du CD

1. Stabat Mater (2'56)
2. Cujus animam (3'56)
3. Quis non posset (2'39)
4. Eia Mater, fons amoris (1'53)
5. Sancta Mater (3'28)
6. Fac me tecum flere (1'28)
7. Juxta crucem tecum stare (2'27)
8. Inflammatus et accensus (3'03)
9. Fac, ut animae donetur (2'19)
10. Amen (1'30)
11. Kyrie (5'40)
12. Gloria (5'15)
13. Credo (5'49)
14. Sanctus (3'06)
15. Agnus Dei (1'49)

Ecoutes

Track 1

Track 5


Track 10


Track 11