Francesco Corselli: Missa Ave maris stella | Masses for Celebration | 1750

From: Corselli’s “Masses for Celebration“. Year composed: 1750 Works: Missa Ave maris stella (This Video) & Missa Exultabunt sancti in gloria [00:00] Kyrie [02:50] Gloria: Gloria in excelsis Deo [05:11] Gloria: Gratias agimus tibi [07:06] Gloria: Domine Deus, Rex celestis [09:13] Gloria: Qui tolis peccata mundi [13:53] Gloria: Quoniam tu solus Sanctus [15:53] Gloria: Cum Sancto Spiritu [18:14] Credo [20:42] Credo: Et incarnatus est [22:53] Credo: Crucifixus [24:02] Credo: Et resurrexit [26:35] Credo: Et vitam venturi seculi [28:21] Sanctus [30:00] Agnus Dei Francesco Corselli was one of those great Italian composers of the eighteenth century whose names have all but disappeared from the history of music as is written today. Francesco Corselli was born in Italy, but like Scarlatti, he came to Spain to work and ended up in the Madrid Royal Chapel as Kapellmeister. Francesco Corselli was an important figure in European music of his time, having gained an influential position in Spain in a period which was crucial for the future of Spanish opera. He may have studied with the widely known opera church composer Geminiano Giacomelli, also from Piacenza, whom he succeeded in 1727 as Maestro di capella at the Steccata church of Parma. His operatic debuts in Venice are Venere placata (Teatro S. Samuele, spring 1731) and Nino (S. Angelo, carnival 1732) are likely to have been encouraged by Giacomelli, whose stature in Venetian operatic life was rapidly increasing in those years. Along other important Corselli’s works are Farnace (Libretto by Metastasio; Madrid, 1739) and Achille in Sciro (Libretto by Metastasio; Madrid, 1744). Francesco Corselli (Courcelle) was born April 19, 1705 in Piacenza, Italy from French parents. He was the director of music for the funerals of Francesco Farnese in Parma in 1724, and Antonio Farnese in 1731, and Kapellmeister at the Church of Santa Maria della Steccata, 1727-1731, and simultaneously at the court of Parma, 1727-33. In 1734 he decided to move to Madrid, Spain where he was active as a tenor, harpsichordist and violinist and music teacher of the Royal Infants. In 1737/38 he joined the “Colegio de cantorcillos“ until his death. In 1747, he was appointed director of the Theatre at the Buen Retiro, along with two other Italian composers Francesco Corradini and Giovanni Battista Mele. In Madrid, Corselli composed several operas and many pieces of religious music, especially after he was appointed in 1738 Kapellmeister at the Royal Chapel. Corselli died in Madrid April 3, 1778. Cover Art: Piacenza Catherdal dome with frescoes by Guercino. Partially displayed at the top right is the prophet Zechariah, depicted in good looks, it stands out against the blue sky dressed in a red cloth that discovers the chest and muscular arms. He is accompanied by two little angels who are exhibiting a cartouche with the oracle “HABITABO IN MEDIO TVI AIT DOMINVS“ (Zechariah - “I will live among you, says the Lord“), recall to Jerusalem that received the presence of the Lord like Mary. Performed by: Orchestra of New Spain and Chorus Orchestra of New Spain George Wilkins, Conductor #RecordareDomine