Girolamo Abos
About the composer
Girolamo Abos was born on the island of Malta, Italy, in 1715. Still very young, he was sent to Naples to study and he never returned to his birthplace. He started his career in 1742 by composing opera buffo for the Teatro Nuovo. From 1754 he was a teacher at the S.Maria della Pietà dei Turchini, where he had Paisiello under his students.
For all purposes, Abos can be regarded as an Italian composer. He was well known in Europe, where he traveled quite a lot. In London he was musical director of the Italian Theatre for some years. Abos composed many operas and sacred works. He died in 1760.
About the Stabat Mater
| Date | 1750 |
|---|---|
| Performers | 2 Sopranos, Alto and Orchestra |
| Length | CD 1: 30.41 minutes, CD 2: 23.17 minutes |
| Particulars | The work is divided into six sections, with the final Amen - a fugue - as a separate section. The first stanza reminds me strongly of Pergolesi, even if it is quite different. It is fine music, clearly influenced by his work on operas. What surprises me is the difference in tempo between the two performances. |
| Colour bar |  |
| Textual variations | The "Analecta"-version is used, but with some variations, especially in CD 1. - Stanza 4, line 2: Not "Et tremebat cum videbat" but "Pia Mater dum videbat" - Stanza 5, line 2: Not "Christi Matrem" but "Matrem Christi" - Stanza 16, line 2: Not "Passionis eius sortem" but "Passionis fac consortem" - Stanza 17, line 3: Not "Ob amorem Filii" but "Et cruore Filii" - Stanza 18, line 1: Not "Inflammatus et accensus" but "Flammis ne urrar succensus" In CD 2 follows the Analecta much closer, and only deviates in the stanzas 4 and 16. |
Information about the recording
| CD1: | The High Baroque – Composers from Malta (2 CD's) |
| More info: | The CD has no number, as it is not from a commercial company. It seems to be part (Volume 3) of a series of CD's, made for a Foundation to conserve the Maltese culture: Fondazzjoni Mermorja Kulturali Nazzjonali. It was recorded at the St.George's Basilica in Victoria Gozo, Malta, February – June 2002. I received the CD as a present from Doris Caruana of Malta. |
| Orchestra: | Baroque Ensemble |
| Conductor: | Joseph Vella |
| Soloists: | Miriam Cauchi and Claire Debono, sopranos; Claire Massa, alto |
| Other works: | Pietro Gristi: Beatus vir + Missa di Gloria + Nisi Dominus; Mikielang Vella: Salve sancta parens; Girolamo Abos: 4 opera arias (Pensa ben mio + Pensa a serbarmi + Belle luci ch'accendete + No, non mi so risovere) |
| Code: | ABO 01 |
| CD2: | Cypres Records CYP1639: Stabat Mater – Abos – Tartini – Gasparini |
| More info: | The CD contains three Stabat Mater compositions from about 1760, which have in common that the almost the same soloist voices have been used. It was recorded at the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, December 2002. |
| Orchestra: | Stradivaria |
| Conductor: | Daniel Cuiller |
| Soloists: | Isabelle Poulenard and Isabelle Desrochers, sopranos; Martin Oro, countertenor |
| Other works: | Giuseppe Tartini: Stabat Mater; Quirino Gasparini: Stabat Mater |
| Code: | 2003 GASP 01 |
