The Suitabilty Of Voices

And more repertoire duplication on this BBC Music mag cover disk which features two settings of the Stabat Mater, the one by Pergolesi of which I have a magnificent recording and one by Domenico Scarlatti that I don't otherwise have. The pergolesi is performed here by The Choristers of New College Oxford and the Academy of Ancient Music ( leader Pauline Nobes ) directed by Edward Higginbottom. I have to admit that I find the boys voices totally unsuitable in this work, they lack the life experience for the subject matter musical tradition for the Baroque settings. The Scarlatti version is performed by the BBC Singers directed by Harry Christophers with solo contributions from soprano Elizabeth Poole and tenor Neil NacKenzie. The instrumental backing is provided by small forces; David Miller ( theorbo ), Frances Kelly ( baroque harp ) and Gary Cooper ( organ continuo ). Not as melodically memorable as the Pergolesi, it is nevertheless the more satisfactory in this instance because of the maturity of the singers.