Album

As the old saying goes, "the third time's the charm." This is indeed the third time the German label Accent has issued this coupling of Domenico Scarlatti's Stabat Mater with João Rodrigues Esteves' Missa a oito voces. The first time was in 1990, when the recording by Currende under the leadership of Erik van Nevel was new, and the second in 1998 as part of a box set containing this and several recordings by Concerto Palatino. No complaints here, though, as this is one of the finest discs Accent has to offer.

Domenico Scarlatti's Stabat Mater is recorded with far more frequency than any other non-keyboard music the younger Scarlatti wrote; however, the score, though written for a 10-part chorus, comes only equipped with a basso continuo. It is commonly performed with a complement of strings oriented to the continuo part, or with no accompaniment whatsoever. On Scarlatti/Esteves—Currende it is rendered with organ, the instrument Scarlatti recommends for the continuo, and an occasional string bass. This seems the most sane solution to the problem of realizing Scarlatti's Stabat Mater, as when too many instruments are involved, the texture becomes too crowded, but without something to hold down the backline the voices tend to be a bit too diffuse and wandering. Not only does the continuo realization do justice to Scarlatti's music, the singing by Currende—which is transparent overall, yet not without a good deal of tasty clashes of harmonic color—is quite outstandingly balanced and demonstrates the benefits of careful rehearsal. Hearing other recordings of Scarlatti's Stabat Mater will make you wonder why anyone cares at all about this work, but this one will make you wonder where this Stabat Mater has been all of your life.

Although Pergolesi's famous Stabat Mater is a typical choice as filler for Scarlatti's setting, or vice versa, Portuguese composer João Rodrigues Esteves' Missa a oito voces is a better match, as it is more coherent in stylistic terms to Scarlatti than is Pergolesi's distinctly pre-classical masterwork. Accent's recording is clear, true, and intimate; if you missed this one the first two times it was around, now is as good a time as any to claim this disc for one's collection of Baroque sacred music.

© Uncle Dave Lewis , All Music Guide

CD 1
Domenico Scarlatti Composer Stabat Mater, for two choirs, organ, and continuo Work 25:39 Currende Vocal Ensemble, Jan van Elsacker Tenor, Elisabeth Hermans Soprano, Erik Van Nevel Conductor
1	1.Stabat Mater	2:56			$0.99
2	2.Cujus animam gementem	3:56			$0.99
3	3.Quis non posset	2:39			$0.99
4	4.Eja Mater, fons amoris	1:53			$0.99
5	5.Sancta Mater, istud agas	3:28			$0.99
6	6.Fac me vere tecum flere	1:28			$0.99
7	7.Juxta crucem	2:27			$0.99
8	8.Inflammatus	3:03			$0.99
9	9.Fac ut animae	2:19			$0.99
10	10.Amen	1:30			$0.99
João Rodrigues Esteves Composer Missa for 8 Voices Work 21:39 Currende Vocal Ensemble, Erik Van Nevel Conductor
11	Kyrie	5:40			$0.99
12	Gloria	5:15			$0.99
13	Credo	5:49			$0.99
14	Sanctus	3:06			$0.99
15	Agnus Dei	1:49			$0.99