Girolamo Abos
A Maltese Christmas

Description

This project began with the idea of presenting a concert of music featuring unknown works by Girolamo Abos at the Valletta International Baroque Music festival in Malta in 2015. The plan was to make a live recording of the concert which was to be released the same year, honoring his 300th birthday. We were fortunate enough to spend a few days prior to the concert rehearsing the music in this beautiful historical city which gave us all the opportunity to explore the many wonderful sights and sample the fantastic local cuisine!

Abos’ music is clearly influenced by his studies in Naples with Francesco Durante (who also taught Pergolesi) and Leonardo Leo, both well known proponents of the Neapolitan baroque style.
He initially achieved success as an opera composer (he wrote 14 of them!) which were premiered in Naples, Rome and London. Later in his career, he returned to writing church music. There are three beautiful examples (a Mass, a Magnificat and a Benedictus) performed on our recording.

If you’re looking for some wonderful and unusual Christmas music by someone you’ve never heard of, then this recording is definitely for you!

Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel
Magnificat
Messa a due cori

CPO
Eine Co-Produktion mit Deutschlandfunk
T.T. 67’53