Search - Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Gregorio Allegri, Jeremy Summerly :: Early Music - Palestrina: Choral Works / Oxford Camerata

Overall Excellence

Karl Henning | Boston, MA | 04/21/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Missa Papae Marcelli and Missa Aeterna Christi munera are both excellent.The whole of the Pope Marcellus Mass is a model of artfully managed simplicity; it is a glorious sound -- the Kyrie and the Sanctus especially are wonderfully serene and ethereal.The other Mass is fine, too; a bit more rythmic activity, something more of the jauntiness of the madrigal, than the monumental Pope Marcellus Mass, but all the same, a lovely piece, and well sung here.The Oxford Camerata here have a lovely, warm sound, very nicely blended; there is excellent rhythm in the ensemble, as well.The Stabat mater is an exquisite work, one of those unnecessarily well-kept secrets; a fantastic piece which is marvelously suited to Holy Week observances (he writes, in Eastertide ....)The Allegri Miserere is beautiful, as well. I have both this, and the Tallis Scholars; I don't want to get into the "this one is better than the other" swamp ... they have somewhat different characters, much as two people have different tones of voice, and yet both voices may be perfectly pleasant. The high soprano in the figure which is the trademark of the Allegri, has good control; I have an idea that the corresponding singer in the Tallis Scholars recording may be a little "rounder," a little more covered in tone. But as I say, both are fine, and wondrously musical."

Listen to this if you're unfamiliar with Palestrina

David G. R. | Oregon | 03/13/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This disc seems to be a great introduction to the music of Palestrina. Missa Papae Marcelli is definitely the highlight. The choral artistry is exquisite on this work and also on the Missa Aeterna Christi Munera. The Stabat Mater doesn't seem too bad, either. I have heard better recordings of Allegri's Miserere, however. Richard Marlow and the Cambridge Trinity College Choir do a fabulous job with this work on their double set entitled "Choral Moods.""

Beautiful!

06/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Exquisite! The choir is resonant and beautifully blended, with a sweet line throughout the MISSA PAPAE MARCELLI. This recording is an ideal introduction to Italian Renaissance polyphony, as it was for me. Beautiful music, a nice combination of pieces, a ravishingly beautiful choir - and at this price, how can you go wrong? Hooray for Naxos!"