Album Description

The Sixteen adds to its stunning Handel collection with a new recording of Dixit Dominus set alongside a little know treasure - Agostino Steffani’s Stabat Mater.

Full of virtuosity, vibrant colour and dynamic energy, Handel’s Dixit Dominus captures absolutely the Italian style of the period. Handel’s control of forces is masterly and the range of texture and style is breathtaking. Written during the composer’s time in Italy in the early eighteenth century it is amongst his first autographed works and also one of his finest.

By comparison Agostino Steffani’s little known Stabat Mater was one of his last compositions. Written for the Academy of Vocal Music in London, this work is the most powerful expression of Steffani’s religious fervour and, outside opera, his largest, most varied and most heartfelt composition.

Artists

Elin Manahan Thomas & Grace Davidson soprano
Ruth Massey alto
Jeremy Budd & Mark Dobell tenor
Eamonn Dougan & Rob Macdonald bass
The Sixteen
Harry Christophers

Track Listing

Agostino Steffani (1654-1728)
Stabat Mater dolorosa
1. Stabat Mater dolorosa 
2. Cuius animam gementem 
3. Quis est homo qui non fleret 
4. Pro peccatis suae gentis 
5. Vidit suum dulcem Natum 
6. Eia Mater, fons amoris 
7. Fac me vere tecum flere 
8. Virgo virginum praeclara 
9. Fac ut portem Christi mortem 
10. Fac me plagis vulnerary 
11. Inflammatus et accensus 
12. Quando corpus morietur 

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) 
Dixit Dominus
13. Dixit Dominus 
14. Virgam virtutis tuae 
15. Tecum principium in die virtutis 
16. Iuravit Dominus 
17. Tu es sacerdos in aeternum 
18. Dominus a dextris tuis 
19. Iudicabit 
20. De torrente in via bibet 
21. Gloria Patri et Filio

TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 60.10