Stabat Mater by Luigi Boccherini

Programme Notes
Luigi Boccherini composed the first version of his Stabat Mater, which we will hear this evening, in 1781 in Arenas de San Pedro (Ávila). The work was commissioned by the Infante of Spain, Don Luis, brother of King Charles III of Bourbon. The text dates back to the 13th century and was written by Jacopone da Todi.

The opening verse begins with a brief instrumental introduction, leading to the soprano’s entrance with an intimate and mournful melody. It is followed by Cujus animam, an Allegro marked by restless and sorrowful accents. The next verse, O quam tristis, is a recitative leading into Quae moerebat, a gentle and delicate aria with an instrumental introduction reminiscent of Pergolesi.

A splendid recitative, Quis est homo, precedes the aria Pro peccatis, graceful and elegant in character. The following verse, Eja Mater, is a noble and expressive aria, introduced by a beautiful cello solo, which here assumes a leading role alongside the soprano.

The next three verses (Tui nati, Fac me vere, and Juxta crucem) form a single tripartite movement — Allegro assai, Adagio, and Allegro as before — revisiting thematic material from the opening section.

Two exquisite arias follow, Virgo Virginum and Fac ut portem, both finely and elegantly orchestrated in a refined Rococo style. These precede Fac me plagis, a powerful and dramatic fugue whose rhythmic drive dissolves into a pause, leading to the final Quando corpus, a slow Andante.

This is the most intense section of the composition, alternating a dark and sorrowful instrumental colour in the minor mode with the luminous hope of the major mode on the words “In Paradisi gloria.” The concluding Amen unfolds into a coda rich in tenderness and melancholy, bringing this delicate and deeply spiritual work to a close.

Giuseppina Perna
Giuseppina Perna, born in Avellino, began her studies in viola and classical singing in 2010 at the Conservatorio “Domenico Cimarosa.” In 2015, she graduated with honours in vocal performance from the same institution.

In early 2019, she completed a Master’s degree in Historical Performance Practice under the guidance of Maestro Antonio Florio at the Conservatorio “San Pietro a Majella” in Naples, graduating with honours and special distinction. In 2024, she completed her studies in Vocal Chamber Music with top marks at the Conservatorio “Nicola Sala” in Benevento.

She continues her artistic development through advanced courses in German Lied at the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole (with Maestro E. Battaglia) and chamber music at the Avosproject Academy (with Maestro Mario Montore).

Her repertoire spans opera, early music, and contemporary works. In 2014 she performed an unpublished manuscript by Niccolò Porpora at Palazzo Zevallos in Naples, as well as Monteverdi’s Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda. She has also performed contemporary works such as El retablo de maese Pedro by de Falla and Concerto per la notte di Natale by Luigi Dallapiccola at the Teatro Eur in Rome.

In 2017, she made her debut at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples. In 2018, she performed the roles of Cleonte (Zenobia Regina de’ Palmireni) and Statira (both by Albinoni) at Teatro Malibran (La Fenice, Venice) and Teatro Mario del Monaco in Treviso. That same year, she performed La Giuditta by Alessandro Scarlatti under the direction of Antonio Florio.

In 2019, she appeared as soprano soloist in Austria in Handel’s Dixit Dominus and Bach’s Magnificat under Gianluca Capuano. In 2022, she performed Mozart’s Mass in C minor under Alexander Lonquich with the Orchestra of the Teatro Olimpico.

She has collaborated with institutions such as Compagnia Pantakin (Venice), Fundación Eutherpe (León), Accademia Musicale Emiliana (Parma), Accademia Musicale Europea (Naples), and the Cappella Neapolitana.

She won first prize at the “Principe Francesco Maria Ruspoli” Competition and the “Premio Fatima Terzo” Baroque Singing Competition in 2020. In 2021, she founded the Duo Aglaia with pianist Carlo Martiniello, focusing on chamber repertoire in Italian, French, German, and Russian.

Since 2022, the duo has performed at Villa Campolieto (Ercolano), Palazzo Venezia (Naples), Tirana, and León. In 2022, she won second prize at the Elsa Respighi International Competition, and in 2024 she won first prize at the LiricheDaCamera Competition, leading to her debut recording with the Tactus label.

Ensemble Giovanile Mozart Lab
The Ensemble Giovanile Mozart Lab is composed of teachers and students from the Conservatorio “San Pietro a Majella” in Naples. It was founded with the aim of passing on the great Neapolitan instrumental tradition to younger generations of musicians.

Antonio Maione
Antonio Maione studied piano with Vincenzo Vitale and graduated with highest honours under Carlo Alessandro Lapegna. He also studied composition with Gaetano Panariello and conducting with Francesco Vizioli, earning diplomas in choral music, choir conducting, and orchestral conducting.

He further refined his training with Donato Renzetti (conducting) and Irwin Gage (vocal chamber music).

In 1989, he made his debut as a solo pianist at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples in the ballet Nijinskij with Carla Fracci, beginning a long collaboration with the renowned dancer. He has since performed in major theatres including La Fenice (Venice), Teatro Lirico (Milan), Teatro Filarmonico (Verona), Teatro Verdi (Florence), and Teatro Olimpico (Vicenza).

He has also collaborated with Roberto De Simone as pianist and répétiteur.

Since 1999, he has been active as a conductor, debuting with the Nuova Orchestra Scarlatti in the modern premiere of Galuppi’s Adamo ed Eva. He has worked with leading singers such as Mariella Devia, Leyla Gencer, Katia Ricciarelli, Maria Grazia Schiavo, and Luciana Serra.

He regularly performs as both pianist and conductor and has appeared in numerous radio and television broadcasts for RAI. He recently collaborated with the Opéra National du Rhin (Strasbourg) for Il matrimonio segreto by Cimarosa.

He has served as Artistic Director of the Incontri Musicali Sorrentini and currently teaches Piano Accompaniment at the Conservatorio of Naples.