Search - Mingardo, Alessandrini, Concerto Italiano :: Vivaldi: Stabat Mater (Vivaldi Edition)

Amazing ... Stabat Mater, Opus 111

Steffan Piper | Palm Desert, CA | 06/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I really enjoy this compilation and find it very different from the many other versions of Stabat Mater by Vivaldi that I've heard. While the packaging is a bit chic and designed to capture the eye of a more younger crowd, obviously hoping to take classical music to new places as is the struggle in this field today. This is one in a series, which I've listened to and can say that, as a whole they are all very worthy recordings. The sound quality is very good as far as the ability to "properly" record classical music.



So many Sound Engineers get stuck in a 'pop music' mode when having to face classical recordings, it seems to continually baffle them for some reason. The hope in Vivaldi, as many know, is to not focus on the soloist or what would be seen in modern music as the front-end but listen to the piece as a whole and moreso listening to the "back' tones or undercurrent, which are complex and lost so many times by Rock/Modern sound engineers. This is the real sound which was intended by the composer, almost four hundred years ago.



This recording, overlooked nobly by Laurence Heym, delivers a very rich and rewarding Vivaldi experience. Sara Mingardo is a very talented, commanding and lush Contralto. Perhaps one of the best that I've heard in recent years. And no, that's not her on the cover. The playing is very precise and seamless, wonderfully directed by Rinaldo Allessandrini. I highly recommend this offering by the National University Library in Turin.



And lastly, as a historical note, this was thought to be light years beyond anything at the time when Vivaldi wrote it, which he did very quickly, and it brought people to thier knees, ... which was much appreciated by the Church."

Another Great Recording in a Great Series

Kyle E. Lockhart | Texas USA | 09/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have generally enjoyed all the items I have purchased from this series. This disc, however, is among my favorites. Mingardo is a singer I was not very familiar with until I began listening to these Vivaldi Edition releases. She has an wonderful voice that is very well suited to the pieces on this disc. The singing is not only technically above par but her singing also communicates the text well and brings the music to life. Additionally, the ensemble playing on the disk is really top notch. I purchased this mainly for the vocal works but find the concerti equally, if not more, exciting."