Composer: Ildebrando Pizzetti, Gian Francesco Malipiero, Gregorio Allegri, Giacomo Puccini
Performer: Vasari Singers, Jeremy Backhouse
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Naxos
Size: 1.09 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Pizzetti, Ildebrando (1880-1968):
01. De profundis
Malipiero, Gian Francesco (1882-1973):
02. De profundis
Allegri, Gregorio (1582-1652):
Miserere mei, Deus – 03. Il salmo Miserere mei Deus
MacMillan, James (b.1959):
04. Miserere
Puccini, Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria (1858-1924):
05. Requiem
Pizzetti, Ildebrando (1880-1968):
Messa di Requiem
06. Requiem
07. Dies Irae
08. Sanctus
09. Agnus Dei
10. Libera Me
Vasari Singers
Jeremy Backhouse
Recorded: 21-23 February 2014
Recording Venue: Tonbridge School Chapel, Tonbridge, Kent
These three pairs of sublime choral settings span well over 350 years. The earliest is Allegri’s Miserere, a work considered so precious it was kept secret until Mozart heard it and famously transcribed it from memory. James MacMillan’s 21st century companion piece is a transcendent reply to this challenge from history. Malipiero’s and Pizzetti’s resumption of a fractured friendship resulted in their mutually dedicated but differing settings of De profundis. Puccini’s brief but exquisite Requiem commemorated the death of Verdi, while Pizzetti, a late admirer of Puccini, revealed his empathy with vocal polyphony in a full setting of the Requiem Mass.