Celebrated on 25 October, World Opera Day is an opportunity to explore the expressive power of the human voice and the many ways vocal music can move an audience. While opera is known for its dramatic stories and powerful performances, its influence extends far beyond the opera house.
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, composed in the final months of his life in 1736, is a remarkable example of the emotional depth of sacred music. Written for soprano, alto, strings and basso continuo, the work sets a medieval Latin poem about the sorrow of the Virgin Mary at the Crucifixion.
Pergolesi composed during the Baroque era, when opera had a strong influence on musical language. This can be heard in Stabat Mater through its expressive vocal lines, dramatic contrasts and deeply lyrical melodies. Sometimes described metaphorically as a “religious opera”, the work is not an opera itself, but a sacred composition that draws on the emotional language of the operatic tradition.
Discover Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater in concert with Red Events. Find your city featuring this programme and explore upcoming performances on our website.
