stars in Le Monde de la Musique)The Oratorio Gesù al Sepolcro by Giacomo Antonio Perti (1661 -1756), Maestro di Cappella of S.Petronio (1696-1756), was composed in 1686 and frequently performed with various revisions during the first half of the 18th century. The work describes the events between the crucifixion and Christ's burial. There are five characters: the Centurian who pierced Christ's ribs (terrified at the outburst of the elements following Jesus's death and expressing first despair and then repentance), Mary Magdalen (who also blames herself for His death), Joseph of Arimathaea, St. John and the Virgin Mary.
The first part concludes with the Deposition, with Jesus's body resting on His mother's knees under Joseph's watchful eyes. In the second part the Virgin faints as her son's body is taken to the sepulchre.The Oratorio ends with a superb five-part madrigal (cited a number of times in eighteenth-century manuals of counterpoint).The performance is introduced by a procession of members of a Corsican religious brotherhood who chant as they carry in Christ's body (a statue with joined arms). As the body is lifted onto the cross, a Corsican lament is sung. The Deposition and Burial, on the other hand, are accompanied by four-part polyphony sung by Sardinian vocalists (with a solo lament sung by the celebrated Maria Carta).
This production came into being in 1982 following a commission by the Institut des Musiques Anciennes of Metz directed by Alain Pacquier. Since then it has been performed many times: in France for the Festivals of Lille, Niort, Lourdes and La Chaise-Dieu; in Holland for the Festival of Oude Muziek (Utrecht); in Italy for Teatro alla Scala (Milan) and Gran Teatro La Fenice (Venice). The reactions of audiences and in the press have been enthusiastic. A complete broadcast of the whole work has been given by French Television (Antenne 2).
Performers (all in costumes):
Françoise Semellaz, Monique Zanetti, Claudio Cavina, Mario Cecchetti, William Dickinson, Fabio Biondi, Wouter Möller, Coro e Orchestra della Cappella Musicale di S.Petronio
Conductor and Stage Director: Sergio Vartolo
Scenery and costume design:Carlo degli Esposti
Costumes:Alberani of Bologna
Lighting and stage coordination:Toni Casalonga
Video material available on request
Recording:Tactus 661601 ( stars in Le Monde de la Musique)
What the critics are saying...
"..Une mise en scène volontairement naïve, assez touchante...Idée choc: la cérémonie de la Déposition, accompagnée d'extraordinaires chants polyphoniques." (Sylvie de Nussac in l'Express)
"...L'interprétation n'appelle que des éloges.......les cinq chanteurs sont excellents et le petit ensemble instrumental suit les moindres impulsions de son chef, Sergio Vartolo, qui tient lui-même le clavecin avec une invention pleine d'à propos." (Gérard Condé in Le Monde)
"...Le Maître de Chapelle de la Basilique de S.Petronio, G.A.Perti....était vivant dans la personne de son successeur Sergio Vartolo, metteur en scène et chef d'orchestre: quelle vie, quelle émotion, quelle vérité, en un mot, quel art!" (Corse Matin)
"....On ne soulignera jamais assez l'intérêt de telles réalisations.. " (W.K.Guérin in Le Monde de la Musique)
"....Bellissimi i tableaux vivants realizzati su un semplice e efficace impianto scenico." (P. Ro. in Il Gazzettino)
"...spectacle poignant...." (Mi-Fa in Eclairs-Pyrénées)..
"...Un spectacle complet, prenant..." (Jacques Dupeyrat in La Dépèche)
"...Un moment de rare émotion...Qu'on nous donne de la musique baroque et des musiciens de ce niveau..." (Cl. D. in La nouvelle République des Pyrénées)
"...La fusione del canto di tradizione popolare con una partitura sacra del XVIII secolo ha dato un risultato suggestivo ed interessante particolarmente apprezzato dal numeroso pubblico presente nella chiesa." (Gianluca Bauzano in Il Giornale)
"...Con naturalezza ardita il direttore Sergio Vartolo ha mescolato filologia.....con quanto di paraliturgico del sepolcro sopravvive oggi.....Con vibrante urgenza Vartolo e l'orchestra della Cappella Musicale di S.Petronio accompagnano ..Giovanni..il pentimento balzante del centurione, l'aria a soffio di nenia di Maria." (Franca Cella in Il Corriere della Sera)
"....Alla suggestione e all'interesse di questa produzione, seguita tra gli altri...dalla Regina d'Olanda contribuivano in modo determinante due cori popolari....Notevolissima qualità musicale d'assieme..Sergio Vartolo ha diretto l'eccellente complesso internazionale...Vartolo ancora una volta ha ottenuto bellissimi esiti tessendo le fila di un lavoro collettivo di pregio." (Roberto Verti in Il Resto del Carlino)
"...Geniale fusione spettacolare di un oratorio di G.A.Perti....con i canti della Passione interpretati da complessi folcloristici sardi e còrsi (Maria Carta era tra le voci soliste...spettacolo di rara suggestione." (Roberto Verti in Amadeus)
"...Poignante Ouverture du XXVIème Festival de la Chaise-Dieu." (Jacques Beyssac in L'Eveil de la Haute-Loire)
"Un Gesù al Sepolcro inoubliable..." (Le progrès)
"...Largemment ovationné, ce Gesù al Sepolcro restera surtout gravé dans la mémoire par la pénétration du chant traditionnel et populaire...et une mise en image ni provoquante, ni insolente." (Nicole Michalon in La Tribune)
"Sardijnse zang geeft warmte aan kruis-opera....Vartolo dirigeerde vanachter het klavicimbel met verve...en echte emotie..." (Peter van der Lint in Trouw)
"....Maria zingt met rauwe stem een bloedstollend klaaglied." (Jeanet Zandbergen)