Sacred Treasures of Rome is a new recording from the boys of the London Oratory Schola directed by Charles Cole, and focuses on Palestrina in this, his quincentennial year, as well as other composers working in his orbit in Rome.
One thing which many of the composers on the disc share was a connection with St Philip Neri. In particular a motet is included by Giovanni Animuccia, who was one of St Philip’s brother priests during the early beginnings of the Oratory at San Girolamo della Carità. Much of Animuccia’s music has been lost, aside from some beautiful editions of his three masses and some motets in the Vatican Libraries. The fate of the rest is a mystery, though an ignominious legend exists that the scores were sold to a Roman cheesemonger to wrap his wares, such was the value of parchment paper at the time. Fortunately, a few motets can be found scattered across part-books, one of which, O crux ave spes unica, has been reconstructed for this recording.
The album also includes works by other composers who had connections to the Rome Oratory including Allegri, the Anerio brothers, and Giovannelli, who succeeded Palestrina.
The London Oratory Schola will be touring the USA in July and singing much of this music both in liturgical and concert contexts, including an appearance at the Palestrina500 Festival.
Sacred Treasures of Rome is released worldwide on all major platforms on July 4, 2025.
Pre-order via Amazon in the U.S. here, and in the U.K. here.
