The Italian Collection [5 CD set]

"Surprises and rarities abound here, with little-heard Anerio and Marenzio among others. It's great to see The Sixteen taking their large fanbase on a daring journey of discovery. They come up trumps with works, and performances, which reflect the majesty and artistic ambition of the august venue from which this music was drawn."
(Gramophone on the 'Music from the Sistine Chapel')

"The Sixteen's sincere and nourishing performance does glorious justice to Steffani's profoundly moving and lovely setting. The Sixteen's Dixit Dominus… retains only three musicians from two decades ago, and it is a markedly stronger interpretation - dramatically astute, plenty of weight in the dramatic G minor opening, and unbridled (yet never unfocused) choral singing..." Gramophone Magazine, November 2009 on the Handel/Steffani

This set features five of The Sixteen's most celebrated recordings, The Italian Collection is a sumptuous anthology of music. From Allegri's hauntingly beautiful Miserere to the virtuosity, vibrant colour and dynamic energy of Handel's Dixit Dominus, this collection spans three centuries of glorious Italian choral music.

Little-know treasures such as Anerio's glorious 12-part setting of the Stabat Mater sit side by side with Palestrina's Assumpta Est Maria and Lotti's Crucifixus. 14 different composers are represented here and they worked for some of the most splendid musical establishments Italy had to offer including St Mark's in Venice and the Sistine Chapel in Rome.