The Sydney Consort presents a special performance of a unique cantata by Alessandro Scarlatti. Further information is provided by Artistic Director, Monika Kornel.

- Cantata per la Notte di Natale - Cinque Profeti -

-Christmas Cantata –by Alessandro Scarlatti Palazzo Apostolico, Rome 1705

In  18^th Century Rome, opera was banned, and therefore Scarlatti’s compositions were comprised of church music and oratorios in the main. He wrote three Christmas cantatas for the Palazzo Apostolico, but only one composition survived. Today the score is owned by a parish library in Germany and the Sydney Consort enjoys the pleasure of having its own copy, and permission from the library to perform the work in Australia.

Alessandro Scarlatti’s sacred cantata for Christmas Eve 1705 is one of a series of works that were performed on the 24^th of December every year, from 1675 to 1740, in the Papal Palace in Rome. After vespers, the Pope gave a Christmas banquet for the College of Cardinals, who were entertained with a new piece of music composed especially for the occasion and performed by skilled musicians.

The music contained either a ‘cantata’ or two part ‘oratorio’, sung in Italian; Christmastide formed in subject of the text – however, the music was not only intended to uplift the guests’ souls, but also to provide a source of relaxation before the strenuous participation in the midnight mass. 

The librettists of the Christmas cantatas were faced with the task of finding new aspects to the mystery of Christmas each year. Silvio Stampiglia’s (librettist of Cantata di Natale) solution in 1705 was to invent a conversation between five Old Testament prophets about the birth of the Saviour – Daniel (Belinda Montgomery), Ezechiel (Nadia Piave), Isaiah (Nicole Smeulders), Jeremiah (Richard Black) and Abraham (David Rusell).

The audience often included outstanding authorities on poetry and music, and patrons of the arts, among its number. In 1700, Pietro Cardinal Ottoboni (1667-1740) took charge of the papal choir, and his wealth, influence and education made him the most important patron of his day in Rome. He took personal responsibility for selecting the librettists and composers for the Christmas Cantatas performed in the Papal Palace, and in 1705 Ottoboni engaged the services of one of the city’s most distinguished composers, Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725)-called ‘father of the opera’.

Arcangelo Corelli, as Ottoboni’s concertmaster, very likely took part in the performance of this cantata. In baroque Rome, the instrumental music was known very well, and works, which alternated slow and fast movements, were commonly played during Mass.  Corelli and Scarlatti certainly worked together for the same patron – Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni. The Sydney Consort will also perform the concerto grosso Per la Notte di Natale by Arcangelo Corelli.

So, dear friends in music, if you still don’t have an idea for a Christmas present for your family members or friends, bring them for this special concert and let’s celebrate the Christmas festivities at the recently partly restored and acoustically splendid St. Augustine’s Church in Balmain.

MUSICIANS:

Belinda Montgomery soprano

Nadia Piave soprano

Nicole Smeulders alto

Richard Black tenor

David Russell bass

Stan Kornel baroque violin

Fiona Ziegler baroque violin

Nicole Forsyth baroque violin

Valmai Coggins baroque viola

Annika Stagg baroque cello

Monika Kornel harpsichord

DETAILS:

WEDNESDAY, 20^TH DECEMBER AT 8.00PM

ST AUGUSTINE’S CATHOLIC CHURCH – EATON STREET, BALMAIN

$30/$20 at the door; enq. 9705 7468/0416 345 489

Players' Night /Soiree,  Saturday, September 16, Neutral Bay

Friends gathered for another wonderful night of music-making in which members had the opportunity to perform items they had been working on.

The evening kicked off with collaborative pair Inara Molinari, Mezzo, and Diana Weston on harpsichord performing songs by Dowland (Deare if you change), Caccini (Amarilli) and Frescobaldi (Aria di Passacaglia). Diana had enthusiastically researched some alternative and more accurate accompaniments to these pieces which provided some wonderful textures.

Clara Blazer on baroque cello, with continuo support from Diana Weston on harpsichord and Karella Mitchell on baroque cello, then treated us to another challenging and quirky excerpt from a Geminiani sonata.

Left: Karella pulls out the winner of the Fundraising Raffle-Nadia Piave

David Vreeland

And finally, the audience had a feast of French and gallic- inspired harpsichord solos with Diana Weston playing La Forquaray by Dufly, Pastor de Lasala playing three items, Le Plaidoyer de Githere by De Bury, Les idees heureuses and La

prise de Jericho both by Michele Corrette; & David Vreeland completed the night’s entertainment with the Allemande and Sarabande from Bach’s French Suite No 6 in EMaj.

Our special thanks to Mrs Weston for so graciously allowing us to use her home for this event.

Pastor de Lasala

In June, The Tall Poppeas performed in Perth and were delighted to catch up with Monica McTaggart who is the President of The Recorder and Early Music Society of WA.  Monica also organised a large table for us post-concert at Ti Amo's which was a lovely gesture and much appreciated. As committee member of the EMA, it was really fun for Inara to make this connection across the country.

we note that Monica will heading to the East(Armidale) next year as a tutor at the Orpheus Recorder Workshop in January.

Our Players' Night /Soiree on April 8 was a great success. Not only did we hear a terrific selection of music played to a very appreciative and healthy audience, but we also managed to obtain some sponsorship for future events.

It was quite a feat squashing nine musicians and a singer into a terrace house lounge room for the opening Monteverdi "Concerti" organised by John Cunningham of Venetian Red. Here are some of the players performing in he opening Monteverdi piece.

Bernie on Theorbo, Matt on Violin, Diana on Harpsichord.

EMA President, Cathy Tabrett on Gamba.

Treasurer of the EMA, Neville Olliffe

Committee member Inara, introduces Karella and Clara playing a Geminiani piece for baroque celli.

Michael Messer, Secretary of the EMA,

is joined by Ruth (David on harpsichord

unfortunately obscured) for a trio by Loeillet.

Aspiring baroque violinist, Andrew, entertains with some Bach.

Left: Gary plays his own composition

inspired by Rameau

Right: Diana delights with some

Frescobaldi

On the night, we ran an Easter Raffle with discounted Easter Eggs supplied to us by the Hunter Valley Chocolate Company located in Anderson Street, Chatswood. So if you live in the vicinity, please drop in and support them too!

A lovely and unexpected surprise, was the very kind gesture of performer Karella Mitchell and partner John Breakwell, to donate a weekend away for two at their weekend retreat at Orient Point. (This may become a future venue for workshops of the EMA.) We will therefore be conducting a raffle to be drawn at the next Players' night/Soiree, and will be enclosing raffle tickets for members to sell with the next Newsletter. All proceeds will be applied towards future events sponsored by the EMA.

Huge thanks to Karella and John.

Karella in full flight.

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