If you come to Stabat Mater expecting something in the spirit of Il barbiere di Siviglia, you'll find yourself in an entirely different musical world. This is Gioachino Rossini at his most musically advanced, pointing unmistakably toward Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem. That said, Rossini's signature style still shines through, most notably in the playful tenor solo "Cujus animam gementem."

The cast assembled for this performance is excellent, bringing a decidedly operatic scope to the proceedings. Leyla Gencer unleashes fire and brimstone in the "Inflammatus," while Luigi Alva lends his signature elegance to the aforementioned tenor aria.