(sung in Latin)
Joan Hammond (soprano)
Muriel Brunskill (contralto)
Frank Titterton (tenor)
William Parsons (bass)
BBC Opera Chorus
(Trained by Alan G. Melville )
BBC Opera Orchestra
(Leader, John Sharpe )
Conductor, Stanford Robinson
' Rossini wrote his Stabat Mater at the request of an eminent prelate on the express condition that the manuscript should not leave the possession of us owner. But being seized with a severe attack of lumbago after the composition of the first six numbers, and being continually pestered by the insistent cleric, he entrusted the remainder to Tadolini, a theatre conductor. In exchange Rossini received a gold snuffbox with eight large diamonds worth at least ten thousand francs. That was in 1832. This version received its first and only performance on Good Friday in 1833. Nearly ten years later Rossini took up the work again, discarded Tadolini's share and finally completed the whole work in 1841. It was first performed in Paris in January of the next year, just 110 years ago, and had immense success.' (From Francis Toye 's book on Rossini, published by William Heinemann , Ltd.)