Cavalli: Salve Regina

A wonderful collection of meditative choral music, spearheaded by Allegri's ubiquitous Miserere and including works by other Renaissance composers, including the magnificent Spem in Alium by Thomas Tallis, performed by two of the foremost British choirs under the direction of two of Britain's leading choral conductors - David Willcocks and Stephen Cleobury.

Renaissance choral music has for many years been marketed as stress-busting music to calm down the weary modern-day man or woman in a world full of uncertainty and danger. Ironically, this music was born in a period of great stress and indeed danger as the Catholic Church and emergent Protestant faith wrestled for authority over nations.

The Catholic Church rose to the challenge with some truly spectacular music, including Allegri’s famous Miserere included on this CD. Written for use exclusively by the papal choir, this music owes its popularity to the young Mozart, who having heard it once, copied the work from memory, bringing it to the outside world.

Radical thought, as so often in history, was a punishable offence in the 16th century. Those who called for church reform were often dealt with brutally, paying with their lives for exposing the machinations and wrongdoings of Popes, bishops, priests and clerics.

It was in such a climate that Palestrina, Monteverdi, Victoria and others produced their greatest religious music. This CD makes a soundtrack to the great theatre that was Roman worship in the 16th and 17th centuries, while also providing nearly 50 minutes of uplifting and spiritual music.

Booklet note, sung texts and translations.

Recording made in 1982.

The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, has that something special which makes it incredibly popular. Over the years the pure sound of these well-trained male singers (16 boys and 14 men) has proved immensely appealing to a wide audience.

And yet few people know about the hard, seven days a week discipline which lies at the root of this heavenly music. The choir has a daily (!) routine of rehearsals and performing choral evensong at the chapel of the College. So the Evensong for Advent (the four weeks running up to Christmas) is part of their regular repertoire. These are combined here with Vespers for the assumption of the Virgin Mary (August 15). But any time of the year is right to listen to this unsurpassed choir.

The sacred choral music of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries from Venice, especially that written for the splendour of St Mark’s, has a unique style. From the rich and sonorous sound world of the Gabrielis to the airy zestfulness of Caldara’s contemporary Vivaldi, this was music which dazzled the rest of Europe.

Featuring five of The Sixteen’s most celebrated recordings, The Italian Collection is a sumptuous anthology of music. From Allegri’s hauntingly beautiful Miserere to the virtuosity, vibrant colour and dynamic energy of Handel’s Dixit Dominus, this collection spans three centuries of glorious Italian choral music.

Little-know treasures such as Anerio’s glorious 12-part setting of the Stabat Mater sit side by side with Palestrina’s Assumpta Est Maria and Lotti’s Crucifixus. 14 different composers are represented here and they worked for some of the most splendid musical establishments Italy had to offer including St Mark’s in Venice and the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

A beautifully packaged set, which compliments perfectly The Sixteen's newest series of Palestrina CDs on CORO.

5 CD + CD ROM of booklet notes and sung texts

CD 1: Lamentation

CD 2: Henry Purcell

CD 3: Evensong & Vespers at King's - Vespers for the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Evenson for Advent

CD 4: Sacred Choral Favourites

CD 5: Works by Rutter, Bernstein & Poulenc