The Sixteen record 'new' Allegri Miserere

12 February 2013, 12:26 | Updated: 12 February 2013, 12:29

The Voices of Classic FM present a new version of the famous Lenten piece, charting its evolution from the music originally performed in the Sistine Chapel to the version we know and love today.

Allegri's Miserere is one of the most famous pieces of Renaissance choral music, composed almost 400 years ago, but The Sixteen and Harry Christophers have recorded a new version of the music to be performed on their Choral Pilgrimage 2013. The latest version, researched by Ben Byram-Wigfield, attempts to shed light on the complicated history of this most famous of choral pieces.

Harry Christophers said: "I am very grateful for Ben Byram-Wigfield's amazing work on the Allegri. He has scrutinised all the available source material from the Vatican and other libraries, giving us an invaluable insight into the origins of the music.

"Sadly, nothing survives from Allegri's lifetime, and what we usually hear today is the result of scribal errors and fanciful interpretation. What we have attempted to do, by making use of the many sources, is to show how the piece has evolved over the centuries into the version audiences know and love today."

John Suchet had the exclusive first play of this track on his show today. It will be available to download from the Sixteen's digital shop from the first day of their tour, which starts on 2 March.