Live in Rome Celebrating Palestrina's 40th Anniversary

G :-

All Regions - Regular 1.33:1 / 4:3 - LPCM Stereo / Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround - Colour - PAL

"A good (and long-awaited) transfer to DVD of the tape of the Tallis Scholar's Roman excursion in 1994 (the 400th anniversary of Palesrina's death). Apart from the well-known qualities of the group, the main selling-point here is the concert venue - Santa Maria Maggiore, a space which Palestrina knew well as he served there as a boy chorister.
The main work is the Missa Papae Marcelli, surely Palestrina's most famous music. Comparing the performance in 1994 with the Scholar's earlier (audio only) recording from the early 1980's is instructive. The earlier recording has more light and shade and is more rhapsodic than the later more 'efficient' rendition. One might almost say that the later recording is both more 'professional' and more 'Anglican'. It's certainly less inclined to wear its heart on its sleeve and to revel in the sheer beauty of the piece. Both viewpoints are valid and are a demonstration of how one conductor's view of a work can change over the years."
(Amazon)

Peter Phillips directs The Tallis Scholars in the historic concert celebrating Palestrina's 400th Anniversary, filmed in the Roman Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore where the composer sang as a choirboy and later became maestro di cappella. Choose between 2 presentations and switch between them during the concert.