Stabat Mater

[Pulcinella]

Jean

I can only report what this (relatively) innocent ear heard.
Perhaps cheerful is not the best word to have used (and I didn't intend to strike you dumb!): I certainly expected something more contemplative.
But I suspect that I am merely showing my own ignorance/lack of understanding of both the text and music of that period.
I shall certainly listen again, and will try to follow the words and their translation.

Since the Szymanowski is so special to jlw, I hope that she will give us her thoughts on the various recordings available.

And I will have another go at the Howells (I have a vocal score, which should help!), but agree with VH that it is a `difficult' work.

[edashtav]

the only Stabat Mater is the one by Karol Szymanowski.
Few works are closer to my heart than this. [...]
It's a memorial to a culture, but it speaks to you - to you alone.
[...]
In the moment you experience it, you know it is true.
And you know it will be true, for ever.

Thank goodness you're back, Jayne, we've missed your power and passion.

[Gabriel Jackson]

And I will have another go at the Howells (I have a vocal score, which should help!), but agree with VH that it is a `difficult' work.

Extraordinary piece! David Hill has recently recorded it with the Bach Choir which is very welcome, given how scrappy and inaccurate the only existing recording is.

[Roehre]

Tempted to say, after Alban Berg's "the only 6th, despite the Pastoral", that the only Stabat Mater is the one by Karol Szymanowski.
Few works are closer to my heart than this. Only Suk's Asrael affects me as intensely.

Premiered in Warsaw in 1929, it's impossible not to think of what happened to that city after 1940. The children dying in the streets.
It's a memorial to a culture, but it speaks to you - to you alone.
Deeply Polish, yet a universal statement.

In the moment you experience it, you know it is true.
And you know it will be true, for ever.

and good to see you back, JLW

[EdgeleyRob]

Tempted to say, after Alban Berg's "the only 6th, despite the Pastoral", that the only Stabat Mater is the one by Karol Szymanowski.
Few works are closer to my heart than this. Only Suk's Asrael affects me as intensely.

Premiered in Warsaw in 1929, it's impossible not to think of what happened to that city after 1940. The children dying in the streets.
It's a memorial to a culture, but it speaks to you - to you alone.
Deeply Polish, yet a universal statement.

In the moment you experience it, you know it is true.
And you know it will be true, for ever.

I don't know too many SMs,but I do know that a sh##te week just got a whole lot better now that JLW is back.
Hope all is well Jayne.
Howells for me (surprise surprise!!).

[LeMartinPecheur]

Since the Szymanowski is so special to jlw, I hope that she will give us her thoughts on the various recordings available.

I wouldn't presume to match jlw's knowledge and enthusiasm but for me the Rattle takes some beating - wonderful Polish sop. soloist whose name I won't attempt to spell from memory, but she's an 'Elizabeth' IIRC.

I've also tried the Naxos Warsaw PO/ Wit version but no competition in my opinion. Useful couplings though as sadly Sir Simon doesn't seem quite up for a 'Complete Szymanowski'

[edashtav]

Extraordinary piece! David Hill has recently recorded it with the Bach Choir which is very welcome, given how scrappy and inaccurate the only existing recording is.

That's good news - I've found the work to be recondite, but it's surprising what a good performance can reveal.

[Petrushka]

Tempted to say, after Alban Berg's "the only 6th, despite the Pastoral", that the only Stabat Mater is the one by Karol Szymanowski.
Few works are closer to my heart than this. Only Suk's Asrael affects me as intensely.

Premiered in Warsaw in 1929, it's impossible not to think of what happened to that city after 1940. The children dying in the streets.
It's a memorial to a culture, but it speaks to you - to you alone.
Deeply Polish, yet a universal statement.

In the moment you experience it, you know it is true.
And you know it will be true, for ever.

Only just noticed this. Wonderful to have you back, JLW. As the one who was urging FF to send out a search party sincerely hope all is well.

[richardfinegold]

My favourite is the Dvorak, which is not liked in this forum, it seems.

My reason is that it was one of the first choral works that I became familiar with some years back - sentimental reasons count?

Also my favorite.

[Orgab]

Schubert's (in G minor, D. 175).

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I see that next week is Stabat Mater week on Essential Classics on the 11 o'clock (-ish) slot. Starting with the "chosen" Vivaldi, there's also Palestrina, Rossini, Szymanowski (the Rattle version LMP recommends above) and Poulenc.

[jean]

My favourite is the Dvorak, which is not liked in this forum, it seems.

My reason is that it was one of the first choral works that I became familiar with some years back - sentimental reasons count?

Indeed they do! Send it to The Choir for their Choral Epiphanies slot straight away!

[mercia]

Szymanowski's coming live from King's College on Good Friday evening (Radio 3)

[moeranbiogman]

Sad that Walton was unable to give us his Stabat Mater. He was about to embark on it when he died. Owain Arwel Hughes had asked him to compose a work for the Huddersfield Choral Society's 150th anniversary in 1986.