1973 – The Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge
BBC Choral Evensong broadcast live from St John’s College, Cambridge on Ash Wednesday 7th March 1973, directed by George Guest.
Performance type: Traditional - Latin
Performances of Allegri’s Miserere in Latin that include the famous high ‘C’ as most commonly heard today. “Traditional” recordings in the Discography do not include additional ornamentation beyond what is included in the published score. “Traditional” performances in Latin typically follow editions such as those by George Guest (Chester 1976) or John Rutter (Oxford University Press 1996).
1980 – The Tallis Scholars
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”.
1980 – William Byrd Choir
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.
1980 – The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
A documentary about the chapel of King’s College Cambridge and its choir, directed by Philip Ledger and accompanied by John Butt (organ scholar), made by Canadian company Prometheus Productions, and first made available in the USA on VHS by Home Vision Inc.
1982 – The Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge
The first of a number of recordings that include Allegri’s Miserere by the Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge, and use the new performing edition edited by George Guest in 1976. Recorded at 45rpm, the Meridian ‘Natural Sound Recording’ claims a ‘marked improvement in sound quality when it matters in the listener’s room’. Our copy of this recording is signed by George Guest.
1991 – St Paul’s Cathedral Choir
The first published recording by the Choir of St Paul’s Cathedral to include Allegri’s Miserere.
2000 – St Paul’s Cathedral Choir
Compilation drawn from a variety of St Paul’s Choir recordings on the Hyperion label. Programme chosen and ordered by Colin R Smith and Lucy Hayward-Warburton respectively.
2011 – The Cardinall’s Musick
Includes the ‘Missa Cantantibus Organis’ – a twelve part cyclic mass by seven composers.