Radio 3

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594) was one of the most influential composers in European classical music. With his countless masses, motets and madrigals, infused with a deep sense of spirituality and musical beauty, Palestrina was named the 'Saviour of Church Music' at a revolutionary time when Rome was rewriting the rules of music composition. But what do we know about this mysterious character, between historical fact and hagiographic myth? Donald Macleod follows the clues, to try and reconstruct the story of a fascinating composer, on the (approximately) 500th anniversary of his birth. In this first episode, Donald Macleod invites you to Renaissance Rome, starting in a small town outside of the Eternal City, where our investigation into the origins of Giovanni da Palestrina begins... Sicut cervus I. Sicut cervus II. Sitivit anima mea Stile Antico Laudate pueri I. Laudate pueri Dominum II. Quis sicut Dominus Deus El León de Oro Peter Phillips, conductor Pueri hebraeorum (arr for dobro) Noël Akchoté, dobro guitar Puer qui natus est The Sixteen Harry Christophers, conductor Missa Assumpta est Maria I. Kyrie II. Gloria La Chapelle Royale Philippe Herreweghe, director Josquin des Prez: O virgo prudentissima I. O virgo prudentissima The Gesualdo Six Owain Park, director Josquin des Prez: Fortuna d’un gran tempo La Reverdie Costanzo Festa: Sancta Maria succurre miseris Cantica Symphonia Kees Boeke, director Sacred Madrigals, Book 2 (Delle madrigali spirituali libro secondo) Città di Dio Corvina Consort Zoltán Kalmanovits, director Ricercar del primo tuono Jean Rondeau, harpsichord Magnificat Primi toni Voces8 Presenter by Donald Macleod Produced by Julien Rosa A BBC Audio Wales & West production for BBC Radio 3