CHRISTMAS IN ROME • Paul McCreesh, cond; Gabrieli Consort & Players; Trevor Pinnock, cond;1 English Concert & Ch1 • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON 000992809 (DVD: 102:00) Live: Rome 12/1992

TRAD Tu scendi dalle stelle. ANERIO Nell’apparir del sempiterno sole. VICTORIA O magnum mysterium. Quem vidistis pastores. PALESTRINA Hodie Christus natus est. Missa Hodie Christus natus est: Kyrie, Gloria. FRESCOBALDI Canzona detta la Bianchina. O Jesu mi dulcissime. CARISSIMI Exulta gaude. JOSQUIN DES PREZ Praeter rerum seriem. A. SCARLATTI O di Betlemme altera.1 CORELLI Christmas Concerto.1 VIVALDI Gloria, RV 5891

This package, released on Archiv Laserdisc and VHS in December 1993, was recorded a year earlier at Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome in cooperation with a consortium of European television broadcasters. It consists of two distinct but complementary programs, the first under McCreesh followed by another under Pinnock. As the notes point out, the basilica is the perfect site for such a program, since it has claimed to possess the very crib in which the infant lay on the first Christmas. For centuries the papal celebration of the Midnight Mass of Christmas was held “ad praesepe,” at the altar where the crib was venerated. Typically for such concert videos, we see appropriate scenes in the basilica alternating with views of the singers and players.

McCreesh chose a program of short pieces, beginning outside with the pifferi playing. Even the motet and the two Mass movements of Palestrina are separated by other pieces. The performers are varied, with the opening traditional melody played in the manner of peasants coming into town to play for the feast. The Anerio is a dialogue for three soloists while the second Frescobaldi piece is a tenor solo. Instruments are used in some selections, including one of the two Victoria motets and the Palestrina Mass movements, as Roman practice of the 17th century allowed. A standout piece is the Josquin des Prez motet for Christmas, the basis of a Mass by Cipriano de Rore. Most of McCreesh’s program was issued on CD (Archiv 437833), for which the Mass was recorded again (complete) in London a couple of months later with added chant, organ pieces, and a remake of Exulta gaude.

Pinnock offered three major works. The Scarlatti is a pastoral cantata featuring a delightful soprano, Nancy Argenta, a work recorded quite a few times before and since this. The Corelli is his very familiar op. 6/8, and he concludes with a splendid version of the much-recorded Vivaldi work. Pinnock’s program was issued intact on CD (Archiv 437834). Neither of these two CDs seems to have been reviewed over here. The DVD, however, is a delightful program, visually stunning, beautifully captured in surround sound.

FANFARE: J. F. Weber