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CD Review
Gioachino Rossini
Stabat Mater
Barbara Frittoli, soprano
Sonia Ganassi, mezzo-soprano
Giuseppe Sabbatini, tenor
Michele Pertusi, bass
Netherlands Radio Choir
Royal Concertegebouw Orchestra/Riccardo Chailly
Decca 460781-2 56m DDD
Chailly is enjoying something of a boost of late with April's Decca releases almost exclusively dedicated to him. The Italian conductor's penchant for rare Rossini has already been demonstrated in an exquisite disc of Italian cantatas and this follow up is doubly welcome.
The perfunctory strains of the Concertgebouw Orchestra show us that this is music of a deeply passionate sort and Chailly keeps the flow of the choruses and solos well in check.
Of the four soloists, I enjoyed Frittoli's pure contribution best but each singer brings their own particular characteristics to the proceedings. Philip Gossett's outstanding monograph provides for some entertaining notes.
I still have a soft spot for the older Kertész version of this great work but now one must yield to the technological advances and the higher standards of Chailly and his marvellous Amsterdam orchestra for a top recommendation in this work.
Copyright © 2003, Gerald Fenech
