BaL 24.10.20 - Pergolesi: Stabat Mater

[Pulcinella]

Strange, I thought just the opposite - a good selection of different versions and a lot of information given by the reviewer and - praise be - much less intervention on the part of AMG.

I'd agree with this overall view.
JS was not ashamed to admit that his blind listening (which I admire, though he didn't actually tell us how many versions he'd listened to, did he?) caught him out several times.
He caught my attention right from the start, by beginning with the ending (Amen) too; a good idea to turn the piece on its head (and a good way to introduce the JSB 'adaptation', I thought).

[Goon525]

I still wonder how he achieves his blind listening.

[DracoM]

[QUOTE=MickyD;813222]Strange, I thought just the opp

Yeah, well, SH is formidable musician / broadcaster, so......even God's Deputy on Radio 3 Earth - AMcG - needs to exercise the humility to know when to take a backer seat!

[Pulcinella]

I still wonder how he achieves his blind listening.

Maybe he's just sent numbered files (or unlabelled CD copies) and only finds out later which is which?
Or his wife/partner/accomplice loads up the CD player and doesn't tell him?

[Dave2002]

Is this historically correct? Wouldn’t Pergo have used a Harpsichord?

Looking at it again, isn't is just a representation of a keyboard? What looks a bit like an outline of a grand piano, might actually just be a stone platform. From the angles shown in the photos it looks as though there is just a single keyboard - not a double/triple one as for harpsichords or organs, so maybe it is a representation of some keyboard instrument from Pergolesi's period. From the front it possibly could be taken for an organ.

[vinteuil]

Looking at it again, isn't is just a representation of a keyboard? What looks a bit like an outline of a grand piano, might actually just be a stone platform. From the angles shown in the photos it looks as though there is just a single keyboard - not a double/triple one as for harpsichords or organs, so maybe it is a representation of some keyboard instrument from Pergolesi's period. From the front it possibly could be taken for an organ.

... if you walk round it you will find it is a marble grand piano. I see the sculpture dates from 1910 - the memorial is very much of its period.

Iesi is a most attractive town - I was just taken by the eccentricity of the monument.

.

[Dave2002]

... if you walk round it you will find it is a marble grand piano.

.

ahhh - so completely anachronistic then.

[cloughie]

I'd agree with this overall view.
JS was not ashamed to admit that his blind listening (which I admire, though he didn't actually tell us how many versions he'd listened to, did he?) caught him out several times.
He caught my attention right from the start, by beginning with the ending (Amen) too; a good idea to turn the piece on its head (and a good way to introduce the JSB 'adaptation', I thought).

Loved that - lesser reviewer may well have gone on about how to be authentic it should be sung by a boy treble or castrato or whatever! A bit of good honesty there!

[DracoM]

[LeMartinPecheur]

Wot? No arguments yet about JS's final choice or boarders' ignored personal faves?

Perhaps this indicates I'm not alone in having no 'proper' version on the shelves (just a BBC MM recording) and not being in any rush to change this despite engagement with the programme and reasonable enjoyment of it. Sorry Mr Summerly!

[MickyD]

I am already very content with the Kirkby/BowmanAAM/Hogwood version, but on the strength of the Bonney/Scholl/Rousset excerpts this morning, I have just put in an order for it.

[Cockney Sparrow]

I am already very content with the Kirkby/BowmanAAM/Hogwood version, but on the strength of the Bonney/Scholl/Rousset excerpts this morning, I have just put in an order for it.

Ditto. Will order the Bonney/Rousset and I have the Hogwood.

I enjoyed the BAL and am happy with Jeremy Summerly. We aren't going to get that much better from Rec Review these days. But we are blessed with all the resources available from the internet these days - amongst others Oxford Music Online, Streaming services and, for the price of a subscription, the reviews database of The Gramophone.

[Pulcinella]

Somewhat off topic....
Does anyone know the Alessandro Scarlatti setting, which the Pergolesi was commissioned to replace?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stabat_Mater_(Scarlatti)

The two versions of the Pergolesi I have are coupled with Domenico Scarlatti's setting.

[gurnemanz]

I am already very content with the Kirkby/BowmanAAM/Hogwood version, but on the strength of the Bonney/Scholl/Rousset excerpts this morning, I have just put in an order for it.

I have Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin with Anna Prohaska, Bernarda Fink - two favourite singers - and Concerto Vocale, Sebastian Hennig, René Jacobs, both BaL-approved. Barbara Bonney is another favourite and today's winner might tempt me. Also Jaroussky and the marvellous Sara Mingardo with Abbado. There again, I don't really need more recordings and should probably restrain myself from a new purchase.

[CallMePaul]

Somewhat off topic....
Does anyone know the Alessandro Scarlatti setting, which the Pergolesi was commissioned to replace?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stabat_Mater_(Scarlatti)

The two versions of the Pergolesi I have are coupled with Domenico Scarlatti's setting.

Alessandrini couples the Pergolesi with the Alessandro Scarlatti and remains my choice, although I did like the male soprano who was briefly featured (Can't remember his name!). Barbara Bonney is too operatic for my taste so I will not be interested in today's winner.