DVD Videos

Cappella Musicale Pontificia "Sistina" is one of the oldest and most prestigious musical institutions – the “Choir of the Pope”.

Under the direction of Massimo Palombella they perform works from some of the most beautiful and most popular composers of sacred music; from Gregorian chant to the Kyrie from Missa Papae Marcelli by Palestrina.

A highlight of the evening is also the premiere of "Qui operatus est" by Lorenzo Perosi, found recently in historical archives.

This DVD is the second part of a series of sacred music from Italian Basilicas – with attractive pricing.

Picture format DVD: NTSC 16:9

Sound formats DVD: PCM Stereo, DD 5.1

Region code: 0

Running time: 55 mins

Harry Christophers and The Sixteen join Simon Russell Beale for two special Christmas programmes that look beyond the familiar carols and festive songs to reveal two millennia of music and texts from across Europe.

Bonus Features include:

· Sacred Music Series One and An Easter Celebration DVD trailers

· 7 Bonus Audio Tracks taken from a selection of The Sixteen’s celebrated Christmas CDs

· Related Recordings by The Sixteen

· Artist Biographies and Images

A CHRISTMAS HISTORY

Simon Russell Beale takes a journey through Italy, Britain, Germany and Austria as he explores how the sound of Christmas has evolved in response to changing ideas about the Nativity. His story takes us through two millennia of music, from a fragment of papyrus preserving the earliest known piece of Christian music to the stories behind Hark! The herald angels sing, Silent Night and In the bleak midwinter, and the work of popular Christmas composer, John Rutter all performed by Harry Christophers and The Sixteen.

A CHORAL CHRISTMAS

Simon Russell Beale introduces a programme of choral music for Christmas from across the centuries, featuring performances of some of the works featured in the accompanying documentary. Harry Christophers and The Sixteen, perform music including J.S. Bach's harmonisation of the medieval carol In dulci jubilo, A spotless rose by Herbert Howells and the Christmas text O magnum mysterium, set as a motet by Tomás Luis de Victoria.

In the finale to series one of the Sacred Music programme, Simon Russell Beale presents a special concert for Easter from LSO St Luke's in London, performed by the award-winning choir The Sixteen, conducted by founder Harry Christophers. The music takes us on a journey of over a thousand years, from haunting plainchant through to the celebrated music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Highlights include Palestrina's motet Assumpta Est Maria, and Allegri's Miserere.

Plus Bonus Features include:

· Sacred Music Series One Preview

· Exclusive Interview with Harry Christophers

· Song Selection with Introductions from Harry Christophers (Audio Option)

· Related Recordings by The Sixteen

· Artist Biographies and Images

· Downloadable Screensavers

Region: NTSC Region 0

Plays in all territories

The Tallis Scholars celebrate Palestrina’s 400th anniversary with a unique concert in the Roman Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore where the composer sang as a choirboy and later became maestro di cappella.

There are two presentations of the same concert, an illustrated performance featuring the priceless artworks in the Basilica which are used to illuminate the sung texts, and a pure performance that is 100% Tallis Scholars. Optional captions name the artworks and describe the context in which they are used and sub-titles provide translations of the sung Latin into English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Japanese.

The Tallis Scholars celebrate Palestrina’s 400th anniversary with a unique concert in the Roman Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore where the composer sang as a choirboy and later became maestro di cappella.

There are two presentations of the same concert, an illustrated performance featuring the priceless artworks in the Basilica which are used to illuminate the sung texts, and a pure performance that is 100% Tallis Scholars. Optional captions name the artworks and describe the context in which they are used and sub-titles provide translations of the sung Latin into English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Japanese.