Tim Mead and Francesca Aspromonte - Pergolesi’s Stabat mater

Tim Mead and Francesca Aspromonte in Pergolesi's Stabat mater

Tim Mead began his career with the renowned Choir of King's College Cambridge. Francesca Aspromonte is a renowned teacher of Italian vocal baroque at the Hague Conservatory. Together, they sing, accompanied by the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, the famous and beloved Stabat mater by Pergolesi. With only two singers and a small ensemble, this Italian composer knows how to capture the medieval poem about Mary's sorrow at the crucified Christ in an unparalleled way.

Dutch Chamber Orchestra with Wassenaer and Stravinsky

Pergolesi also appears in the rest of the program, performed by the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra under its principal leader, Gordan Nikolić. Stravinsky based his lively ballet Pulcinella on music he believed to be by Pergolesi. However, much of that music turned out not to be by Pergolesi at all but by the Dutch Count Unico van Wassenaer, such as the Concerti Armonici. One of these concerti is featured in this program. It’s a brilliant piece of Baroque music from Dutch soil, uniquely connected with Stravinsky and Pergolesi.