Claudio Abbado, Sara Mingardo - Pergolesi: Missa S. Emidio (2010)

Had Pergolesi not died young, his name would rank among the most stellar and influential of Italy's 18th-century composers. Despite the brevity of his life, he died at 26, Pergolesi created numerous deathless works. In this second album of Claudio Abbado's Pergolesi Project, the renowned maestro conducts the Missa S. Emidio, Manca la guida al pie, Laudate pueri Dominum, and the Salve Regina in F minor. Abbado's passion for this music meets these sacred compositions on the exalted level where they were composed. Pergolesi's church music is distinguished not just by lively declamation of the text but by the melodic charm of the solo sections, which contrast richly to the choral passages. This album showcases the talents of such singers as Rachel Harnisch, Sara Mingardo, Veronica Cangemi, and Teresa Romano, who bring exceptional vocal and interpretive gifts to this deceptively simple repertoire.