Released in March of 2008, this recording of some of the most haunting sacred vocal music of the Baroque period, comes to us via the dream-team of Spinosi, Lemieux and Jaroussky. The same group that has been performing Vivaldi operas to great acclaim all over Europe, and releasing award winning recordings. My prediction is that this CD might very well be an award winner this year.

The conducting, the playing, the singing, the sound of the instruments and the voices, the recording quality, everything about this disc is of the highest standards. The three works recorded here are all about sorrow, suffering, loss and sadness. The Stabat Mater in particular is a perfect example of that, and here, the grief in Lemieux's singing is palpable, and the music supporting it, although minimal, has an underlying pulse as if a beating human heart, all conveyed so well by Spinosi and the Ensemble Matheus.

Listen to the instrumental opening of the Nisi Dominus, and within seconds you should be convinced of the dedication of everyone involved in this project. This new recording will not only raise the hairs at the back of your neck, but will also raise the bar for future performers.

Jean-Yves Duperron