Stabat Mater, the most widespread musical work of the 18th century, is reborn together with 72 Bolivian artists

Pain, translated from music, aims to touch hearts in Santa Cruz de la Sierra through two words: ‘Stabat Mater’a show that invites you to explore the eighteenth century, together with Bolivian talents, this April 4 and 5, at 8:00 p.m., in the La Merced church (Ayacucho street, España corner). The income costs Bs 50.

The Municipal Secretary of Culture and Tourism together with the teacher Luis Alberto Valdivia push this new season of concerts, which will have 72 artists on stage, under the umbrella of the Voces del Cielo Municipal Children’s Choir, which is on its way to its 25-year history.

The composition of both nights goes like this: Missional Orchestra (10 musicians), Karina Troiano (soprano), Gabriel Alfaro (countertenor), Giovanni Moreno (continuo), Javier Antelo (concertmaster), 55 children from Villa Primero de Mayo and El Pajonal; all directed by Luis Alberto Valdivia, Samuel Rueda and Lucas Suárez. The latter as a guest director.

‘Stabat Mater’ is the most popular, most edited and widely distributed piece of the 18th century, called the Age of Enlightenment, full of great events, such as the independence of the United States, the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, the French Revolution and the discoveries around the planets Uranus and Saturn.

That is the reality in which the Italian Giovanni Battista Pergolesi composes the piece and he does it on his deathbed, when tuberculosis seriously afflicted him and this disease left him breathless, without allowing him to find out that his creation would become the one with the greatest projection during that moment in history.

“It is a musical jewel historically speaking. People will be able to get to know, listen to and even ‘feel’ this style of music”, says Luis Alberto Valdivia, one of the choral directors who, together with the entire team, rehearsed for four months to obtain the perfect finish for a recital focused on the Baroque.

“It has been a time to explore (for artists) how music was made at that time and how this composer (Pergolesi) expressed the suffering of Mary when Jesus Christ was crucified,” he says.

This ordeal will be brought to the stage during 12 movements in a maximum of 40 minutes of total concert presentation. And each one of them will have dissonant effects, causing the public to taste this musical delight.

“Each movement has minor, sad, melancholic and happy tonalities, but they are still the same background. Our audience will be able to feel that tension from the first minute of the work”, Valdivia continued explaining. And he also pointed out that the work will be performed in Latin, but with a translation for the public.

More information about access can be obtained by calling 726-49377; The capacity of La Merced is 150 people.

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736) was one of the founders of Italian opera. He studied at the Naples Conversatory and, andAmong the works of his last two years, stands out ‘Stabat Mater’ (1736). He composed a great deal of religious music and a concerto for violin and chamber music. Died in pozzuoli, at 26 years old. His body rests in a chapel built in the Cathedral of that city.