Next to the King’s College recording of 1963, the Tallis Scholar’s 1980 recording of Allegri’s Miserere is equally influential. In 2018, BBC Music Magazine included this recording in their list “The 50 greatest recordings of all time”.
Founded in 1973 by Gavin Turner, the William Byrd Choir was the first outside choir (apart from the Sistine Chapel Choir itself) to record in the Sistine Chapel, with the BBC in June 1980. Their recording, which included Allegri’s Miserere alongside works by Palestrina was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 a month later. The recording was produced by Miserere scholar Hugh Keyte.
A fine performance without abbellimenti, taken at pace and with a certain rhythmic enthusiasm as part of this edition of ‘Papal Music – The Sistine Chapel and the Popes of Rome’
Includes the ‘Missa Cantantibus Organis’ – a twelve part cyclic mass by seven composers.