ROSSINI: Mosè in Egitto
Rossini’s Mosè in Egitto combines the biblical narrative of the release of Moses and the Israelites from Egypt, and a more characteristically operatic element in the love of Pharaoh’s son Osiride for the Hebrew girl Elcìa, making this also a typical conflict between love and duty. The piece was reworked in 1822 for Paris with new arias, but is given here in the slightly revised Italian version of 1819, which includes the famous Act 3 Preghiera of Moses.

San Pietro a Majella Chorus, Naples (Elsa Evangelista, Chorus-master); Wildbad Wind Band (Martin Koch, Band-leader); Württemberg Philharmonic Orchestra, Antonino Fogliani

SCARLATTI, D. : StabatMater / Missabreve, "Lastella" / TeDeum/ Magnificat
Domenico Scarlatti is known today for his many harpsichord sonatas. The earlier part of his career, however, was concentrated on sacred and secular vocal music. While his Te Deum was probably written for Lisbon, the other works included here come from Scarlatti’s earlier period in Rome, where he was employed for a time at Santa Maria Maggiore and officially at the papal Cappella Giulia. The best known example of Scarlatti’s church music is his Stabat Mater. A remarkable synthesis of the old and the new, the work is scored for ten voices, two five part choirs, and continuo; all voices are seldom heard together but are deployed in a series of contrasting and sometimes florid textures.
Immortal Bach Ensemble, Morten Schuldt-Jense
BACH: Sonatas for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord
Bach's three Sonatas for Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord, BWV 1027-29 have been variously dated, either to Bach's Cöthen period, where as Kapellmeister he was responsible for all instrumental music, and had at his disposal a small but outstanding ensemble of musicians, or to the later period in Leipzig, when he was occupied with the Collegium Musicum. These intensely expressive and often technically demanding, yet intimate works have the usual texture of Bach's instrumental sonatas, with two upper parts supported by a bass part.
Mikko Perkola (viola da gamba), Aapo Häkkinen (harpsichord)