The Early Music Show - 16/11/2008

Lucie Skeaping presents a programme featuring the music of the Italian composer, Alessandro Stradella. Born in the 17th century into a noble family in Tuscany, Stradella was a much-respected composer in his day and capitalised on his family connections with noble patrons. Although he seemed to have led a charmed life, it was also peppered with various scandals, and ended tragically early at the age of 42, stabbed by an assassin for reasons which are still not clear. Lucie Skeaping plays a selection of Stradella's music, including part of his oratorio San Giovanni Battista. including: STRADELLA Opening Sinfonia from Oratorio San Giovanni Battista Academia Montis Regalis Alessandro de Marchi, conductor Hyperion CDA67617 track 2 STRADELLA Sacred cantata: Crocifissione e morte di N.S Giesu Christo Gérard Lesne, alto Il Seminario Musicale Virgin Classics VC5451752 tracks 1 – 3 STRADELLA Sinfonia no 12 Ingrid Matthews, violin Mary Springfels, viola da gamba Barbara Weiss, harpsichord Harmonia Mundi HMU907192 track 6 STRADELLA Duet: Fulmini quanto sa Emma Kirkby, soprano David Thomas, bass Alan Wilson, harpsichord Jakob Lindberg, lute Anthony Rooley, lute Musica Oscura 070984 track 16 STRADELLA Sinfonia in D major from Serenata Il barcheggio (1681) Crispian Steele-Perkins, trumpet The Parley of Instruments Hyperion CDA67359 tracks 21 – 24 STRADELLA Extract from Part II San Giovanni Battista Recit Deh, che piu tardi a consolar - Sinfonia a 3 (Lelio Colista) Anke Hermann, Salome (soprano) Martin Oro, San Giovanni Battista (counter-tenor) Antonio Abete, Herode (bass) Academia Montis Regalis Alessandro de Marchi, conductor Hyperion CDA67617 tracks 25 – 29