Sacred Treasures II: Choral Masterworks from the Sistine Chapel

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
As with its predecessor, Sacred Treasures II lifts the spirits, warms the soul, and soothes the mind. With reverence, world music composer-conductor Vladimir Ivanoff invigorates the classic Holy Week psalm "Miserere," composed in the 17th century by Roman master composer Gregorio Allegori. Ivanoff extends Allegori's venerable nine-piece offering of contrition with five original tracks. In this manner, Ivanoff not only brings this astounding work to a new audience, but also builds on what has historically been the improvisational nature of the work, with Allegori's masterpiece originally modeled on that of Costanzo Festus. Recorded in a German cathedral, Ivanoff's "Metamorphoses" stars a stunning brass section, which provides near perfect balance to the extraordinary Gregorian styled harmonizing of the Onasbrück Boys Chorus. Sacred Treasures II is a magnificent feat: at once haunting, heartbreaking, and heavenly. --Paige La Grone

Tracks:

Miserere: Miserere Mei
Miserere: Et Secundum
Miserere: Amplius
Miserere: Tibi Soli
Miserere: Ecce Enim
Miserere: Asperges Me
Miserere: Averte Faciem
Miserere: Cor Mundum
Miserere: Danza I
Miserere: Quoniam Si Voluisses
Miserere: Tunc Acceptabis
Miserere: Sofferenza
Miserere: Tunc Imponent
Miserere: Danza II

Amazon.com

As with its predecessor, Sacred Treasures II lifts the spirits, warms the soul, and soothes the mind. With reverence, world music composer-conductor Vladimir Ivanoff invigorates the classic Holy Week psalm "Miserere," composed in the 17th century by Roman master composer Gregorio Allegori. Ivanoff extends Allegori's venerable nine-piece offering of contrition with five original tracks. In this manner, Ivanoff not only brings this astounding work to a new audience, but also builds on what has historically been the improvisational nature of the work, with Allegori's masterpiece originally modeled on that of Costanzo Festus. Recorded in a German cathedral, Ivanoff's "Metamorphoses" stars a stunning brass section, which provides near perfect balance to the extraordinary Gregorian styled harmonizing of the Onasbrück Boys Chorus. Sacred Treasures II is a magnificent feat: at once haunting, heartbreaking, and heavenly. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews:

Why the instruments?.......2006-12-28

I really enjoyed many of the pieces, but the saxophone/trumpet/etc. ruined it for me.

Beautiful CD.......2006-09-29

I cannot say whether or not this rendition is true to Allegri or not. I can say that the music is beautiful, relaxing, heart-felt, contemplative. I highly recommend it.

Big Disappointment.......2006-05-26

I was very disappointed with this selection. I mean, who in the right mind would use a TRUMPET SOLO for a choral CD? And the soprano solo sounded like she was in some kind of physical pain. I just couldn't believe my ears. I kept listening, hoping that maybe, just maybe, the next one would be better, but no such luck. The entire disc was a disappointment.

If you are looking for a nice choral CD with pretty sopranos, I recommend the Sacred Treasures Volume 4, which I got in a hurry to help me recover from the horrors of Volume 2. I found the other volumes (the Russian chorals) to be too baritone for me.

Sounds of Heaven.......2005-12-23

This is the most beautiful CD created. It's as if a window of heaven were put on a CD. The singers sound like angels, and the instruments sound unworldly. This is a must-have for anyone's Christmas CD collection. Highly recommended!

Its different~but beautifull in its difference!.......2003-07-16

First of-its not the miserere that we're all used to. It is the whole piece but its been divided into 14 tracks. As with the Miserere: first there is singing by the men then "answered by the boy trebles". ( which by the way do a wonderful job. The high c is hit with a pure voice. The rest do a great job whith the ins and out of the harmony.)I am not a music scholar, but after the lines are sung and the brass tones of the cornetto come in~ it is a truly haunting ethereal beautiful experience. You can imagine the Pope kneeling in the solemn candlelit atmosphere of the Sistine chapel, although it is recorded in the Osnabruck Cathedral. There are so may recorded pieces of the Miserere, I myself have at least a dozen. To hear it played this way is not a problem. If you want the Miserere the way it was written by Allegri, buy it from Choir of St John's. Or if you want it in english, get it from the King's Cathedral choir. They are both gorgious! But for a different perspective don't be afraid to try something new. It is absolutely awesome!

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