Religious music, with this episode: Italian Christmas music from the baroque period.
We start with the final part of the vesper celebration of Christmas: a Magnificat from Baldassare Galuppi. Then, a Christmas cantata from Cristofaro Caresana and the motet “Ad presepe venite” from Francesco Durante. This motet calls on the sheperds to come to the crib and behold and worship the Christ-child, wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Baldassare Galuppi (1706–1785)
1. ‘Magnificat’ from Vespers for Christmas
Performing: Cappella Marciana conducted by Marco Gemmani
(CD label: Fluente Records 111 nr. FL 28288)
Cristofaro Caresana (ca. 1640-1709)
2. Christmas cantata ‘La Tarantella’
Performing: Cappella Della Pietà De’ Turchini conducted by Antonio Florio
(CD label: OPUS 111 nr. OPS 30449)
Guiseppe Sammartini (1695-1750)
3. Pastorale from the concerto grosso Op. 5 no. 6
Performing: The English Concert conducted by Trevor Pinnock
(CD label: Archiv nr. RIC 435262-2)
Francesco Durante (1684-1755)
4. Motet for the birth of Christ: ‘Ad presepe venite’
Performing: Roberta Makelij (soprano), Ursula Eittinger (alto), Andreas Post (tenor), Stephan MacLeod (bass). Kölner Akademie conducted by Michael Alexander Willens
(CD label: CPO nr. 777571-2)
In addition:
Giovanni Valentini (1730–1804)
5. From the Sinfonia per II Santissimo Natale, Op. 1 no. 12: ‘Presto’
Performing: Cappella Gabetta conducted by Andrés Gabetta
(CD label: DHM nr. 88985332982)
