Rossini: Stabat mater [hr-Sinfonieorchester, MDR Rundfunkchor, Orozco-Estrada]

Conducted by Andrés Orozco-Estrada, the hr-Sinfonieorchester (Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra) and MDR Rundfunkchor (The Radio Choir of Leipzig, one of the oldest radio choirs in the world) perform Gioachino Rossini’s Stabat Mater, a musical work based on the traditional structure of the Stabat Mater for chorus and soloists. Recorded during the Rheingau Musik Festival 2015 on June 28, 2015 at the Kloster Eberbach (Eberbach Abbey). Soloists: Marina Rebeka, Soprano; Marina Comparato, Mezzo-soprano; Michele Angelini, Tenor; Marco Spotti, Bass.

Structure

Rossini began the work in 1831 but did not complete it until 1841. It is scored for four vocal soloists (soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, and bass), a mixed chorus, and an orchestra of 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, and strings.

Rossini divided the poem’s twenty 3-line verses into ten movements and used various combinations of forces for each movement:

1. Stabat Mater dolorosa (verse 1) – Chorus and all four soloists
2. Cujus animam (verses 2-4) – Tenor
3. Quis est h. (verses 5-6) – Soprano and mezzo-soprano
4. Pro peccatis (verses 7-8) – Bass
5. Eja, Mater (verses 9-10) – Bass recitative and chorus
6. Sancta Mater (verses 11-15) – All four soloists
7. Fac ut portem (verses 16-17) – Mezzo-soprano
8. Inflammatus (verses 18-19) – Soprano and chorus
9. Quando corpus morietur (verse 20) – Chorus and all four soloists
10. In sempiterna saecula. Amen (not part of the standard text) – Chorus

MDR Rundfunkchor

The MDR Radio Choir (German: MDR Rundfunkchor) was founded in 1946 as the “Rundfunkchor Leipzig” (“Leipzig Radio Choir”). Under the direction of the German Conductor Herbert Kegel (29 July 1920 – 20 November 1990), the choir developed in the 1950s and 1960s to one of the leading choirs in Europe.

Today the Rundfunkchor Leipzig is called MDR Rundfunkchor Leipzig.

Sources

• Stabat Mater (Rossini) on Wikipedia
• rundfunkschaetze.de

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M. Özgür Nevres

I am Özgür Nevres, a software engineer, a former road racing cyclist, and also an amateur musician. I opened andantemoderato.com to share my favorite music. I also take care of stray cats & dogs. This website's all income goes directly to our furry friends. Please consider supporting me on Patreon, so I can help more animals!

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