Gramophone Magazine, Editor’s Choice - November 2009

Bach, J S:
Psalm 51 from Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater BWV1083 ‘Tilge, Höchster meine Sünden’

Emma Kirkby (soprano)

Pergolesi: Salve Regina in F minor

Vivaldi: Concerto for Strings in E flat major ‘Sonata al Santo Sepolcro’, RV130 Stabat Mater, RV621

This disc features beautiful and moving works reflecting on the grief of the Virgin Mary written by great Vivaldi, Pergolesi and Bach. Vivaldi’s Stabat Mater dates from around 1711 or 1712 and he used just the first ten verses of the text, creating one of the most sombre of all settings.

Bach’s adaptation of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater uses a contemporary German version of the Biblical Psalm 51. To suit the requirements of the new text Bach made certain alterations to Pergolesi’s vocal parts but retained the scheme of solo arias and duets between a soprano and an alto voice. He also added a new, independent viola part to the score and rewrote the basso continuo, giving the work a new harmonic vitality.

Pergolesi’s Salve Regina, composed around the same time as the Stabat Mater, and of a similarly expressive, sorrowful style. Of Pergolesi’s two settings of the text, the present one – originally in C minor – is the most well-known, and is here performed in the F minor version for alto voice.

Daniel Taylor directs the Theatre of Early Music as well as performing himself