Pergolesi's Purgatory

[KevinP]

Okay, the title might imply some judgement of some kind, but Palestrina already has a Palace, so it was either this or Porch...

Not a one-hit wonder to me, but close to being perceived as one. I've certainly not heard everything he's done nor even every work represented with a recording, but everything I've heard has been very consistent.

I'm inclined to think his Stabat Mater is so well known mostly because of its first movement, which is indeed exceptional. (Yes, I know I just countered my claim of consistency.) I find the rest of the work typical of Pergolesi, which is to say very good.

Favourite works? Favourite recordings?

[JBS]

I think someone else already has a Porch, but don't remember who it is.

My Pergolesi is confined to these two:


So: two versions of the Stabat Mater, some arias and sacred works, and a violin concerto, none of which really impressed me. Plus a couple of recordings of Bach's reworking of the Stabat Mater for Lutheran use.
Any suggestions for the operas (not that recordings are very plentiful)?

[KevinP]

La Serva Padrona is perhaps his most well-known (perhaps because it's easy to record and/or stage), but rather than a full opera, it was an intermezzo to keep the audience entertained who didn't get up during the intermission of one his serious opera. It's fun and short--two acts but perhaps the length of a one-act work. Three roles and one is non-vocal.