Search - Gioachino Rossini, Christoph Spering, Iride Martinez :: Rossini - Stabat Mater / I. Martinez, Mingardo, Castronovo, Relyea, Das Neue Orchester, Spering

Best Rossini Stabat Mater I have ever heard

Alan M. Silbergeld | Baltimore, MD United States | 03/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Christoph Spering, his Neue Orchester and the Chorus Musicus, with a virtually matchless quartet of soloists, do this wonderfully operatic quasi-religous work up proud - it's hard to imagine it in a better performance. All of the drama is there and yet all of the details are beautifully articulated and, where appropriate, caressed. Soprano Iride Martinez has a superb, dark and sizeable instrument which she uses with great musicality. Both her legato line and her articulation are impressive and she sing with great feeling. Only in the "Inflammatus" does she fall a bit short of ideal (perhaps this section should have been retired from performance once Florence Austral recorded it - comparisons with her are not really fair). Sara Mingardo, a true contralto, partners Martinez beautifully in "Qui est homo" and shines through with her rich voice. Young American tenor Charles Castronovo sings clean yet expressive lines with a beautiful lyric voice. He is a tenor to watch. John Relyea is a powerful basso and sings richly and very musically throughout, perhaps outmatched only by the young Pole Daniel Borowski on another recent recording of this beautiful work. The recording is generally outstanding, although in the "Inflammatus", Martinez should be more forward of the orchestra. If you love the Stabat Mater, or if you just love great young voices, you cannot be without this recording."