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Pergolesi had a brief life, but left an unforgettable mark on music history with his Stabat Mater, his best-known work. This set contains a reconstruction of what Pergolesi might have written, if he had composed a vespers. There is no evidence that he ever penned such a composition, and this recording is pure speculation. In fact, it is little more than a series of movements strung together, with a goal of creating “a panorama of Pergolesi’s genius”. The recreator, Malcolm Bruno, does not hide his creation of a compilation, combining bits and pieces of Pergolesi’s music to attempt to render a greater work than what he might have written.
The liner notes also point out that Pergolesi would never have “known the kind of choral performance of his music presented on this disc”. Not only would the structure of the works have been different, but the forces are much larger than what Pergolesi would have had available.
So, from the very beginning, we are dealing with a bogus work by a great composer. Is that such a bad thing? Not really. This recording shows off Pergolesi’s “genius” through a selection of movements, and is perhaps better judged as a best-of collection.
However, Higginbottom makes Pergolesi sound much more like Mozart than a composer of the Italian baroque. The choir, in movements such as the Confessio, sounds far too modern for a work of the early 18th century. The music sounds almost too operatic as well - remember, this is supposed to be a sacred work.

This music is supported by two excellent sopranos, Sophie Daneman and Noemi Kiss, who grace this recording with fine, even voices, no excess of vibrato, and some hints of real emotion. But the overall work becomes confusing when, inserted in among the vocal movements, we hear two instrumental sonatas, each cut into two parts (at least they could have been played in sequence), which just don’t fit. This underscores the feeling of a best-of, in the way labels are recording discs today, tossing in a few movements of this, and some excerpts of that.

In the end, this is a hodgepodge, but an attractive one. A fine ensemble graces this disc, excellent soloists, and the recording is good, if a bit dense. Standing on its own, this music is very attractive. In its context, it is a bit of a deception. But a good time will be had by all.

Kirk McElhearn

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