Dvorak: Stabat Mater - Sinopoli

Like Mozart writing his Requiem, this live recording of Dvorak's Stabat Mater has taken on great significance being released in the weeks following the death at 55 of the conductor Giuseppe Sinopoli in May 2001.

Five searing climaxes surge through the opening movement after the bleakest of openings. The quartet of soloists spars dramatically in the "Quis est homo"–there is real curiosity in their desperate questioning. Chorus and tenor Johan Botha present the beautiful "Fac me tecum" melody as if it were the "Ode to Joy". The bass Roberto Scandiuzzi has the pondering voice of an elderly judge. There is wisdom in his dryness. Mezzo Ruxandra Donose sings the "Inflammatus" with fluid weeping tone. The Chor der Saechsischen Staatsoper Dresden embraces the choruses with considerable passion. The choristers are strong and unstraining in the "Eja mater", floating the quiet passages with well-supported whispering tone. By the time the finale comes round, they are sounding pretty tired but that is the nature of the work. The mood is drained. You cannot hear the audience but you can feel them. The world has lost a conductor who could create an atmosphere.

Tracklist

CD 1
01 - Stabat Mater dolorasa
02 - Quis est homo, qui non fleret
03 - Eja, Mater, fons amoris
04 - Fac, ut ardeat cor meum
05 - Tui nati vulnerati

CD 2
01 - Fac me vere tecum flere. Andante con moto
02 - Virgo virginum praeclara. Largo
03 - Fac, ut portem Christi mortem. Larghetto
04 - Inflammatus et accensus. Andante maestoso
05 - Quando corpus morietur. Andante con moto