Customer Reviews

Palestrina: Missa Papae Marcelli; Allegri: Miserere

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the most inspired recording I've heard of Allegri's Miserere...absolutely haunting. It is also an excellent recording of Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli and several other works. The full resonance of Westminster Abbey is captured, and Simon Preston and the Choir take care to bring an emotionally moving yet very noble expression to the polyphony.

I first heard this in college, straight off the grunge bus. I never knew the heights to which a human could master his talents. The Miserere is simply one of the most captivating pieces I've ever heard. Listen to it in a darkened room with someone who loves surprises. And no, that's not a double entendre.

I'm not Catholic or particularly religious. I bought this CD for the Palestrina mass, and Miserere is a huge bonus.

The choir is just superb. And kudos to the recording engineers for capturing the acoustics of Westminster Abbey so well.

If there is a heaven, the music there must sound like this. :)

This is an excellent recording of an excellent work. In it there is all of the sacred and nothing of the profane -- a rare thing in Catholic liturgical music these days. All the choral parts of a Solemn High Mass are here: Kyrie, Gloria, Symbolum Nicenum (Credo), Sanctus, and Agnus Dei. Additionally, there are samples of work by other Renaissance composers.

... this would be my Poster Child CD for what Palestrina shouldn't sound like -- a big choir of semi-professional singers, a lot of acoustic mush, no individuation of the lines of polyphony and no transparency through which to hear them, tuning by committee, somber and almost uniform tempi throughout, conducting by the barlines rather than by the phrases. Lifeless, grumbly, boring.

A well-executed, melodic and harmonious rendition of Palestrina and other choral works. Also, a very nice, choice selection of choral pieces to enjoy on this CD.