Search - Gregorio Allegri, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, David Willcocks :: Allegri: Miserere; Palestrina / Willcocks, Kings College Choir

Likely the best recording

Sean M. Kelly | Portland, Oregon United States | 04/22/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The story of Allegri's "Miserere" Mass has been told time and again, but warrants one more telling. Allegri was commissioned by then Pope Urban VIII to write this piece to be sung exclusively in the Sistine Shapel during Holy Week. This has been the case every year since 1638. The piece itself was written between 1630-38. On Wednesday and Good Friday during Holy Week, this Mass would be sung after 26 candles were extinguished, leaving a solitary one burning. This tradition holds true to this day.The Mass was to be performed only in the Sistine Chapel, and up until Mozart's famous visit to the Chapel in 1770, only 3 written copies of the Mass were known to exist. Anyone else who copied it was either excommunicated, killed, or both. Mozart heard the Mass on that Wednesday, would write the Mass from momory that evening, then hear it again on Good Friday to correct a few errors. He was done at that point, and the piece was returned to Vienna, where it could be shared with the world. (This is a very abbreviated version of a fascinating story)Thanks to Mozart, we can relish in the brilliance of Allegri's Mass, and this 1963 version is arguably the finest recording of it. The solo is maturely handled by treble Roy Goodman, and is central to the success of the recording. The re-mastering of this classic recording only enhances its beauty, wonderfully bringing out its delicate intricaces.This recording, paired with several pieces by Palestrina, is well worth the mere $... asking price. It is worth much more, in my book, so give this classic Mass a listen, and be amazed."

A brilliantly clear recording - you can hear the echos.

ch0pper | SOUTHAMPTON, Hampshire United Kingdom | 10/27/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I love Palestrina, but most of all I love the Allegri Miserere.



I bought the CD to replace an earlier version (performed by the St.John's College Choir)and I was really quite delighted.



The first surprise was to hear the Allegri piece in English. It's good; very good. Not as good as it is in Latin, but still fits the music well. The quality of this recording is breathtaking. You can genuinely sense the atmosphere of the recording space ... the voices simply fade away to nothing in the heights of the building. And the voices you hear seem like the voices of angels.



Similarly, the Palestrina pieces are exceptionally well performed and produce.



However, the real gem (and it's a diamond) is the Allegri. If ever there was a piece of music that can soothe ruffled brows it's this. Let the boys' voices life you to heaven like the soft, gentle wings of angels. Come home stressed, make a cup of hot chocolate, close the curtains, dim the lights and let the sound soothe you."

Definitive Recording of the Allegri Miserere

Geoff Pilkington | 05/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording of the Allegri Misere is one of the most beautiful that I've ever heard, or indeed hope to hear. It is absolutely amazing."