Among the dozens or perhaps hundreds of available recordings of Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, a subgroup of recent ones has emphasized its very operatic style. Within this group, performers have gone in various directions, but a single one is represented here: sheer vocal beauty of a sort that just doesn't come along every day. The vocal line trumps the dramatic meaning of the text here, but the duets between soprano
Véronique Gens and countertenor
Gérard Lesne are so gorgeous that you just won't care. Highlights are hard to select, but they are freely sprinkled as well through the Salve Regina in F minor for alto, strings, and continuo; hear the opening movement, with the passages in which
Lesne gets to display his dark copper lower register. In the Stabat Mater itself, there are more fiery readings of the Fac ut ardeat cor meum section (track 8), but few more agonizingly delectable versions of the climactic Quando corpus morietur (track 12);
Gens and
Lesne begin the duet with an almost total lack of vibrato and introduce it in steps, with overwhelming effect. The small ensemble
Il Seminario Musicale, directed by
Lesne, is a supple instrument that keeps the focus on the singers. The short cello trio sonata at the end has the effect of winding down what is really an intense vocal experience. Notes are in English, French, and German; no texts are included, but they will be at the fingertips of even a novice Internet user. At a budget price, this is a must.