Pope Francis Permits Sistine Chapel Recording

The Pope has given special permission for a studio recording in the Sistine Chapel for the first time.

11:06 11 September 2015

The Pope has permitted Sistine Chapel recording, capturing the singing of his own choir, which is composed of 20 adult singers and 30 boy choristers. The Album is entitled Cantate Domino and includes music written for the Sistine Chapel Choir by Palestrina, Lassus, and Victoria during the Renaissance. It also features the world-premiere recording of the original version of Allegri’s Miserere along with two Gregorian chants.

 

The songs were sung in Latin. They were recorded using a specially-built studio constructed by Deutsche Grammophon, with the mixing desk in an ante-chamber.

 

Some of those who attended the recordings included Italian choirmaster Roberto Gabbiani and Italian opera singer Cecilia Bartoli.

 

Massimo Palombella, the director of the choir, said: "After an intensive period of study and scholarship of the sacred music in the Renaissance and its aesthetic pertinence, we have arrived at the point of making the first commercial recording, in this remarkable building.