Allegri: Miserere / Palestrina: Missa Papae Marcelli

The early music specialists in Peter Phillips’ justly celebrated vocal ensemble recorded Allegri’s Miserere and Palestrina’s Missa Papae Marcelli back in 1980—though several developments in years since argued for a return trip. This time around, a more transparent production sound allows listeners to sink deeper into the polyphony of all the works on this program. And the group’s familiarity with Miserere pays additional arrangement dividends, since the piece is heard both in its version with “standard embellishments”, as well as in a performance outfitted with some extra, high-C-strewn innovations from soprano Deborah Roberts.