Search - Pergolesi, Fisher, Chance :: Stabat Mater / Salve Regina

Marvellous

Felix Badcock | UK | 10/19/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The music is absolutely excellent - hurrah to whomever decided to record this (and revive the two more obscure pieces). Michael Chance is surely at his absolute best here; perfectly held notes with heavenly tone and enormous amounts of emotion as well as his lovely interpretations of the various ornaments etc. Likewise Gillian Fisher - excellent throughout, especially in the solo movements; the final amen and of course the Salve Regina. It's a shame about King, who seems to prefer his own 'interpretation' of the tempos, instrumentation and at times strange organ parts (particularly in the last two pieces), and if we could perhaps have a variation in harmony continuo instruments, some guitars would be nice here and there - so basically if we could have the artists without the organist/conductor it would be the best recording I've ever heard. He also uses editions which have been heard before but are apparently his...
It is, however, all in all a marvellous performance from most concerned and definitely should be at least a hundred times."

The best Pergolesi STabat Mater

Sean P. Doyle | Edmonds, WA USA | 01/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"No other recording of Pergoli's work Stabat Mater compares to this one. This is the definitive recording, no better exists today."