"Dear God: here it is finished, this poor little Mass... I was born for opera buffa, you know it well! A little science, some heart, that's all..."- composer's envoi to "Petite Messe Solennelle".Rossini is generally perceived as an operatic composer, and thus, his sacred works are sometimes perceived as lacking in the light of other pieces in a similar vein. Some have also remarked that Rossini's sacral works are simple continuations of the traditions he created during his compositional career. In many ways, it is so, as the presented two works show. But, like in most cases with Rossini and belcanto, the pieces never lose a certain irresistible charm and beauty.In this new series of uploads I am pairing up two completely different but, nonetheless, both surprisingly refreshing masses by Rossini: an early, even a bit immature work, "Messa di Milano", and a later, more elaborate piece, "Messa di Gloria" (which comes from the 1820s). My goals fall into to two categories: first off, to present the selections that I have chosen for posting and to provide some short ideas on the works; and, secondly, as the pieces, like most masses, follows the same basic structure and share the same text, to compare them.Little is known about the circumstances that led to the composition of the first mass. The name gives us a location of the premiere but no other information is truly clear. While the music forms a stylistic whole, it is not known exactly if the three set sections (Kyrie, Gloria and Credo) are meant to be together: they might have been parts of a complete setting of the Mass Ordinary. Whatever the time, the place and the musical surroundings, the work, especially considering Rossini's young age, is very charming and entertaining, the presumed sacral nature of the piece notwithstanding.I'm only uploading several selections, including the complete Kyrie, Gratias, the Domine Deus (both set as terzets) etc., which I consider rewarding in some way or another. I'm providing the whole structure of the piece to give you a basic idea of the way Rossini set up the classical Mass succession, while the presented pieces are marked by a "*".Susanne Mentzer - contralto,Raul Gimenez &Ian Bostridge - tenors,Simone Alaimo - bass.1. Kyrie (chorus).2. Christe (arioso for tenor).3. Kyrie (chorus &terzettino for tenors and bass).4. Gloria (*; chorus &terzettino for the same). This piece is certainly unusual, being primarily a terzet between the tenors and the bass with each of their ensemble passages continued in similar vein by the chorus. Unusual is the second terzettino which first features a more minor mood introduced by the bass but which soon returns to the original statement. The final terzettino features a simple exchange of a flowing melodic structure, then repeated to great effect by the chorus. The final section almost becomes one of Rossini's classical crescendos.5. Laudamus (*; aria for contralto). A short three-part opening "cavatina" for the contralto soloist with the middle section overplaying with the bass' earlier unsure statement but vindicating itself in the following excited allegro.6. Gratias (chorus).7. Domine Deus (terzettino for tenor, contralto &bass).8. Qui tollis (aria for contralto). 9. Quoniam (aria for bass).10. Cum sancto spiritu (a repeat, albeit to a different text, of the "Gloria" section).11. Credo (chorus).12. Crucifixus (aria for contralto).13. Resurrexit (chorus). [ More Detail ]
Britten: Billy Budd / Nathan Gunn, Ian Bostridge, Gidon Saks, Neal Davies, Jonathan Lemalu, Matthew Rose / London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Daniel Harding / Recorded Live in concert at the Barbican Hall, London - 7th &9th December 2007 / Out now on Virgin Classics [ More Detail ]
George Frideric Handel - Il Allegro, Il Penseroso ed il Moderato (HWV 55).1. Duetto: As steals the morn upon the night.Ensemble Orchestral de Paris.Lynne Dawson (Soprano).Ian Bostridge (Tenor).Dir. John Nelson. [ More Detail ]
This is an from "L'Allegro, il Pensieroso e il Moderato" a Pastoral ode composed by Georg Friedrich Händel after a poem by John Milton and rearranged by James Harris and Charles Jennens. This aria is sung by tenor Ian Bostridge in the role of "L'Allegro" [ More Detail ]
Stereo: http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=3MiKqkYpv_Q&fmt=18Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791).Requiem in D minor (K.626).VIII. Lacrimosa:Lacrymosa dies illa,qua resurget ex favilla,judicandus hom reus.Huis ergo, parce, Deus.Pie Jesu Domine,dona eis requiem.La Chapelle Royale.Collegium Vocale.Orchestre des Champs Élysées.Sibylla Rubens (Soprano).Annette Markert (Alto).Ian Bostridge (Tenor).Hanno Müller Brachmann (Baryton).Dir. Philippe Herreweghe. [ More Detail ]
Stereo: http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=FBTSxdIP_aw&fmt=18Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791).Requiem in D minor (K.626).VII. Confutatis:Confutatis maledictus,flammis accribus addictis,voca me cum benedictis.Oro supplex et acclinis:cor contritum quasi cinis;gere curam mei finis.La Chapelle Royale.Collegium Vocale.Orchestre des Champs Élysées.Sibylla Rubens (Soprano).Annette Markert (Alto).Ian Bostridge (Tenor).Hanno Müller Brachmann (Baryton).Dir. Philippe Herreweghe. [ More Detail ]
Stereo: http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=VhwV8Z0wCJY&fmt=18Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791).Requiem in D minor (K.626).I. Requiem:Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.Et lux perpetua luceat eis.Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion,Et tibi reddetur votum in JerusalemExaudi orationem meamAd te omnis caro veniet. Requiem aeternam dona defunctis, Domine.Et lux perpetua luceat eis.La Chapelle Royale.Collegium Vocale.Orchestre des Champs Élysées.Sibylla Rubens (Soprano).Annette Markert (Alto).Ian Bostridge (Tenor).Hanno Müller Brachmann (Baryton).Dir. Philippe Herreweghe. [ More Detail ]
J. S. BachCantata BWV 147Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben.Eng: Heart and mouth and deed and living.Spa: Corazón y boca y actos y vida.Composed in Leipzig, 1723.Cantata for the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.Readings: Epistle: Isaiah 11: 1-5; Gospel: Luke 1: 39-56Concentus Musicus Vienna.Arnold Schoenberg Choir.Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor.Ian Bostridge, tenor.VII. Aria. [Second Part]Hilf, Jesu, hilf, dass ich auch dich bekenneIn Wohl und Weh, in Freud und Leid,Dass ich dich meinen Heiland nenneIm Glauben und Gelassenheit,Dass stets mein Herz von deiner Liebe brenne.English:Help, Jesus, help both that I may confess theeIn health and woe, joy and grief,And that I may my Savior call theeIn steadfast faith and confidence,That e'er thy love within my heart be burning.Español:Ayúdame, Jesús, ayúdamepara que también pueda reconocerteen la prosperidad y la aflicción,en la alegría y la tristeza,para que pueda llamarte mi Salvadoren la fe y el sosiego,para que mi corazón siempre puedaarder con tu amor.www.bach-cantatas.com_______________________________. [ More Detail ]
J. S. BachCantata BWV 147Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben.Eng: Heart and mouth and deed and living.Spa: Corazón y boca y actos y vida.Composed in Leipzig, 1723.Cantata for the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.Readings: Epistle: Isaiah 11: 1-5; Gospel: Luke 1: 39-56Concentus Musicus Vienna.Arnold Schoenberg Choir.Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor.Ian Bostridge, tenor.II. Recitativo.Gebenedeiter Mund!Maria macht ihr Innerstes der SeelenDurch Dank und Rühmen kund;Sie fänget bei sich an,Des Heilands Wunder zu erzählen,Was er an ihr als seiner Magd getan.O menschliches Geschlecht,Des Satans und der Sünden Knecht,Du bist befreitDurch Christi tröstendes ErscheinenVon dieser Last und Dienstbarkeit!Jedoch dein Mund und dein verstockt GemüteVerschweigt, verleugnet solche Güte;Doch wisse, dass dich nach der SchriftEin allzuscharfes Urteil trifft!English:O thou most blessed voice!Now Mary makes her spirit's deepest feelingsThrough thanks and praising known;She undertakes aloneTo tell the wonders of the Savior,All he in her, his virgin maid, hath wrought.O mortal race of men,Of Satan and of sin the thrall,Thou art set freeThrough Christ's most comforting appearanceFrom all this weight and slavery!But yet thy voice and thine own stubborn spiritGrow still, denying all such kindness;Remember that the Scripture saithAn awesome judgment shall thee strike!Español:Bendita boca!María reveló la parte más íntima de su almapor medio de agradecimientos y plegarias;empezó por narrarse a sí mismael milagro que el Salvador,obró en ella, su sierva.Oh, raza humana,esclava de Satanás y del pecado,te ha liberadola consoladora aparición de Cristode esta carga y esta servidumbre!Empero, tu boca y tu terco espíriturechazan, niegan tal bondad;¡has de saber, pues, que según las escriturasun juicio implacable te espera!www.bach-cantatas.com_______________________________. [ More Detail ]
J. S. BachCantata BWV 61Nun komm, der Heiden HeilandEng: Now come, the gentiles' Savior.Spa: Ven ahora, Salvador de los gentiles.Composed in Weimar, 1734.Concentus Musicus Vienna.Arnold Schoenberg Choir.Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor.Ian Bostridge, tenor.III. Aria.Komm, Jesu, komm zu deiner KircheUnd gib ein selig neues Jahr!Befördre deines Namens Ehre,Erhalte die gesunde LehreUnd segne Kanzel und Altar!English:Come, Jesus, come to this thy church nowAnd fill with blessing the new year!Advance thy name in rank and honor,Uphold thou ev'ry wholesome doctrine,The pulpit and the altar bless!Español:Ven, Jesús, acude a tu iglesiaY concédenos un feliz año nuevo!Propaga la gloria de tu nombre,Preserva las buenas enseñanzasY bendice el púlpito y el altar!www.bach-cantatas.com_______________________________. [ More Detail ]
J. S. BachCantata BWV 61Nun komm, der Heiden HeilandEng: Now come, the gentiles' Savior.Spa: Ven ahora, Salvador de los gentiles.Composed in Weimar, 1734.Concentus Musicus Vienna.Arnold Schoenberg Choir.Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor.Ian Bostridge, tenor.II. Recitativo.Der Heiland ist gekommen,Hat unser armes Fleisch und BlutAn sich genommenUnd nimmet uns zu Blutsverwandten an.O allerhöchstes Gut,Was hast du nicht an uns getan?Was tust du nichtNoch täglich an den Deinen?Du kömmst und lässt dein LichtMit vollem Segen scheinen.English:To us is come the Savior,Who hath our feeble flesh and bloodHimself now takenAnd taketh us as kinsmen of his blood.O treasure unexcelled,What hast thou not for us then done?What dost thou notYet daily for thy people?Thy coming makes thy lightAppear with richest blessing.Español:El Salvador ha llegado,Ha hecho suya nuestra pobre carne y nuestrapobre sangreY nos acepta como sus hermanos.Oh, perfección suprema,Qué es lo que no has hecho por nosotros?Qué es lo que nohaces diariamente por los tuyos?Tú vienes y haces que tu luzBrille llena de bendiciones.www.bach-cantatas.com_______________________________. [ More Detail ]