SALVE REGINA

The compositions on this disc are all from Italy, and by Neapolitan composers. The oldest is Alessandro Scarlatti, and his setting features a strong connection between text and music. He makes use of chromaticism and Seufzer to express the text.
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi is best known for his Stabat mater which was not universally approved as some felt it was too operatic.
Leonardo Leo was one of the main composers of music for the theatre in Naples. That has left its mark in his settings of the Salve Regina which are performed here.