Stabat Mater de Pergolèse

Presented by Musique Sacrée Notre-Dame de Paris

From the Renaissance to the Baroque, the figure of the Virgin Mary holds a central place in the European sacred repertoire. An inexhaustible source of inspiration for composers, she gave rise to works marked by gentleness, contemplation, and the expression of the deepest sentiments of the Christian faith. The culmination of this programme, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, is one of the most celebrated masterpieces of the 18th century. Composed shortly before the musician's death, this work combines simplicity of writing with remarkable expressive intensity to evoke Mary's pain at the foot of the Cross. Motets by Paolo Agostini, Paolo Lorenzani, and André Campra shed new light on this masterpiece, revealing the diversity of styles and sensibilities that nourished Marian devotion throughout the centuries. Performed by the Maîtrise Notre-Dame de Paris and its instrumental ensemble, this concert invites a moment of contemplation where the beauty of prayer and musical emotion converge.