Vivaldi - Stabat Mater - VII. Eja Mater, fons amoris

[BaronVonLichtenstein]

This is one of the most profound pieces of music ever written. I don't know why his Eja Mater is not better known. It's out there in the wilderness. People just hacking away on a violin with someone singing over it, the combination really dark. More tragic sounding than Pergolesis, which is itself superb.

[ConsideringPhlebas]

I disagree. I very much like this version.

The only one I think that surpasses it is the one sung by Carlos Mena. Beauuuuutiful!

[starbreez3]

@ConsideringPhlebas indeed, carlos mena version's very very deep and touching, just as this one.

this, in my opinion is the perfect tempo for this mvt!

[Poutoute2000]

I'm not very found of this version, the emotional content of this piece is already big enough, no need to add too much pathos, no need to slow it even more like this singers does, it becomes like a cake with too much sugar and cream :( Plus wasn't this piece written for castras? I thought it was supposed to be sung on a higher tone...

Last the picture is really freaky, I mean this girls looks like a ghouls or a zombie, isn't she :)

[daniel0azar]

@Poutoute2000 Vivaldi's sacred concertos for alto were never written for castrati. Vivaldi was a fervent lover of female alto voices, and his Stabat Mater, Nisi Dominus, Salve Regina were all written for female altos. Moreover, it is musicologically a terrible mistake to say that parts that were written for castrati should nowadays be performed by counter-tenors. First, the two voice types are miles apart, second, the use of castrati back then was due to a BAN on the use of female voices...