Lorenzo Perosi

Short bio Lorenzo Perosi

Birthday: 1872 in Tortona, Italy

Died: 1956 in Rome, Italy

Genre: Classical

Period: Post-Romantic

Full biography Lorenzo Perosi

Lorenzo Perosi (1872-1956) was an Italian composer of sacred music and a catholic priest. He was born on December 21, 1872, in Tortona, Italy, and became a priest in 1893. Perosi earned international acclaim for his sacred music, and by the late 1890s, he had become one of the most famous composers in Italy. He was recognized as one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century, having written over 3,000 sacred works, many of which remain unpublished.

Perosi was a member of the Giovane Scuola, a group of Italian composers who were active during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was the only member of the group who did not write opera. Nobel Prize winner Romain Rolland once wrote , "It's not easy to give you an idea of the triumph that Lorenzo Perosi's could bring to the most fervent and orthodox Catholic worshiper."

In addition to his sacred music, Perosi also composed a selection of chamber works, including piano quintets and string trios. His works are known for their simple, expressive melodies and striking harmonies.

Perosi was also an important figure in the development of Catholic liturgical music. He was appointed as the director of the Sistine Chapel Choir in 1898 and served in this role until his death in 1956. Perosi worked closely with Pope Pius X, who sought to restore Catholic liturgical music to a more solemn and traditional form.

Overall, Lorenzo Perosi was an accomplished composer of sacred music who made significant contributions to the development of Catholic liturgical music. His works continue to be performed and studied today, and he remains one of the most important figures in Italian music history.

Compositions featuring Lorenzo Perosi

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Il Gran Sasso d'Italia, Cantata per soli, coro ed orchestra	23:39 min	Choral	1936
2	String Quartet No. 16 in C major	15:40 min	Chamber Music	1931
3	Piano Quintet No. 2 in D minor	19:30 min	Chamber Music	1931
4	String Quartet No. 15	14:46 min	Chamber Music	1931
5	Il Sogno Interpretato, oratorio for soloists, chorus & orchestra	50:54 min	Choral	1929
6	String Trio No. 2 in A minor	20:40 min	Chamber Music	1928
7	String Quartet No. 8 in E minor	19:27 min	Chamber Music	1928
8	String Quartet No. 1 in A minor	22:26 min	Chamber Music	1928
9	String Quartet No. 7 in C major	18:48 min	Chamber Music	1928
10	String Quartet No. 2 in B flat major	20:54 min	Chamber Music	1928
11	String Quartet No. 3 in G major	13:00 min	Chamber Music	1928
12	String Quartet No. 6 in F major	15:52 min	Chamber Music	1928
13	String Quartet No. 5 in A major	16:03 min	Chamber Music	1928
14	Piano Concerto in A minor	47:06 min	Concerto	1916
15	Theme and Variations, for violin & piano	14:41 min	Chamber Music	1913
16	La festa del villaggio, for orchestra	13:20 min	Orchestral	1912
17	O Padre nostro, cantata for chorus & orchestra	10:53 min	Choral	1907
18	Stabat Mater, for soloists, chorus & orchestra	22:41 min	Choral	1904
19	Scherzo in A for small orchestra	14:50 min	Orchestral	1902
20	Gerusalemme (L'entrata di Cristo in Gerusalemme), oratorio	78:56 min	Choral	1900
21	Missa in honorem SS. Gervasii et Protasii, for 2 mixed voices & organ (or chamber orchestra)	25:46 min	Choral	1899
22	La trasfigurazione di Cristo, oratorio	70:21 min	Vocal Music	1898
23	La Risurrezione di Lazzaro, Oratorio per soli, coro ed orchestra	84:55 min	Choral	1898
24	Piece for organ in A major	6:13 min	Keyboard	1890
25	Theme & Variations for orchestra	16:17 min	Orchestral	-
26	Adagio in C major, for orchestra	13:35 min	Orchestral	-
27	Piano Quintet No. 1 in F major	19:02 min		-
28	Vieni Creator Spiritus, for chorus & organ	4:06 min	Choral	-
29	Vespertina Oratio, for chorus	54:31 min	Choral	-
30	Prelude for organ in E flat major	4:22 min	Keyboard	-
31	Prelude for organ in F major	2:52 min	Keyboard	-
32	Responsoria ad Matutinum per Il S. Natale, for chorus & organ, Op. 14	21:11 min	Choral	-
33	Verbum supernum o salutaris hostia, for chorus	4:27 min	Choral	-
34	Tu es Petrus, for chorus & organ	3:20 min	Choral	-
35	Transitus Animae, oratorio	40:11 min	Choral	-
36	Vieni Creator Spiritus, offertory for organ in G major	4:48 min	Keyboard	-
37	The Merry Mill, for pops orchestra	2:43 min	Orchestral	-
38	Te Deum, for chorus & organ, Op. 19	10:46 min	Choral	-
39	String Quartet No. 4 in D flat minor	17:31 min		-
40	Tantum Ergo, motet for chorus	2:47 min	Choral	-
41	Suite No. 6 'Milano', for orchestra	30:17 min	Orchestral	-
42	Suite for orchestra No. 7 ("Torino")	42:30 min	Orchestral	-
43	Suite for orchestra No. 5 ("Tortona")	22:18 min	Orchestral	-
44	String Quartet No. 9 in D minor	20:34 min	Chamber Music	-
45	String Quartet No. 10 in A minor	16:46 min	Chamber Music	-
46	Suite for orchestra No. 2 ("Venezia")	39:41 min	Orchestral	-
47	String Trio in B flat major	2:36 min	Chamber Music	-
48	Erumpant Montes, motet for chorus	1:59 min	Choral	-
49	La Risurrezione di Cristo, oratorio for soloists, chorus & orchestra	67:21 min	Choral	-
50	La passione di Cristo	72:26 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
51	Jesu, corona virginum, for chorus	3:20 min	Choral	-
52	Inno cattolico, for brass quintet	1:33 min	Chamber Music	-
53	In patris memoriam, oratorio for soprano, chorus & orchestra	38:11 min	Vocal Music	-
54	In Diebus Tribulations, oratorio for soprano, chorus & orchestra	39:37 min	Choral	-
55	Il Natale Del Redentore, oratorio "The Nativity of Christ"	72:29 min	Choral	-
56	Il Giudizio Universale, oratorio	76:23 min	Choral	-
57	Exaudi, Domine, hymn	2:44 min	Choral	-
58	Laudate Pueri, for chorus & organ	4:26 min	Choral	-
59	Elegie for cello & piano	4:08 min	Chamber Music	-
60	Dormi, non piangere, pastorale for orchestra	20:40 min	Orchestral	-
61	Dixit Dominus, for chorus	4:12 min	Choral	-
62	Clarinet Concerto	21:04 min	Concerto	-
63	Cantate Domine, motet for 6 voices	2:28 min	Choral	-
64	Beatus Vir, for chorus & organ	6:36 min	Choral	-
65	Ave Verum, for chorus & organ	2:15 min	Choral	-
66	Ave maris stella, for chorus	5:29 min	Choral	-
67	Missa Pontificalis No. 1	30:48 min	Choral	-
68	Pater noster, for chorus	3:07 min	Choral	-
69	Oremus pro Pontifice, for chorus	4:09 min	Choral	-
70	O sacrum convivium	1:57 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
71	O cor Jesu, for chorus	3:37 min	Choral	-
72	O bella mia speranza, song	2:50 min	Vocal Music	-
73	Natalitia, for chorus & orchestra	22:08 min	Choral	-
74	Mosé	130:31 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
75	Missa Te Deum laudamus	26:20 min	Choral	-
76	Missa Pontificalis No. 2	34:10 min	Choral	-
77	Piano Quartet No. 3 in A minor	14:38 min	Chamber Music	-
78	Missa Benedicamus Domino, for chorus & organ	27:56 min	Choral	-
79	Mille volte benedetta, for chorus & organ	3:14 min	Choral	-
80	Messa Eucaristica, for chorus & organ	23:09 min	Choral	-
81	Messa detta Cerviana	23:01 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	-
82	Messa da Requiem	30:46 min	Choral	-
83	Magnificat, for chorus	5:07 min	Choral	-
84	Libera me, Domine, for chorus	6:21 min	Choral	-
85	Le due strade, for orchestra	10:57 min	Orchestral	-

Albums featuring Lorenzo Perosi

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Lorenzo Perosi, Matteo Bevilacqua, Roma Tre Orchestra Ensemble – Piano Quintets Nos. 1 And 2 • String Trio No. 2(CD, Album)	2022	Naxos
2	Lorenzo Perosi, Coro Dell'Accademia Stefano Tempia, Corale Polifonica di Sommariva Bosco – Missa Pontificalis - Missa Secunda Pontificalis - Confitebor Tibi Domine - Magnificat(CD, Compilation)	2019	Elegia
3	Lorenzo Perosi , Trascrizioni Per Organo Di Marco Enrico Bossi - Diego Cannizzaro – Opere Per Organo(2×CD, Album)	2019	Elegia
4	Boccherini, Bononcini, Caldara, Dvořák, Haydn, Howells, Lachner, Liszt, Mayr, Nystedt, Palestrina, Pärt, Pergolesi, Perosi, Poulenc, Rossini, A. Scarlatti, D. Scarlatti, Schubert, Stanford, Steffani, Szymanowski, Verdi, Vivaldi – Stabat Mater(14×CD, Compi	2017	Brilliant Classics
5	Perosi, Umberto Battegazzore, Orchestra Del Teatro Regio Di Torino, Donato Renzetti – Concerto Per Pianoforte E Orchestra - Suite Per Orchestra "Venezia"(CD, Album)	2017	Amadeus
6	Lorenzo Perosi, Carlo Felice Cillario, Ennio Gerelli, L'Angelicum de Milan – Oratorios(4×CD, Album)	2016	Angelicum
7	Lorenzo Perosi, Arturo Sacchetti – Adagio In Do / Concerto Per Clarinetto E Orchestra / Suite N. 6 "Milano"(CD, Album)	2013	Bongiovanni
8	Quartetto N.1 In La Minore / Quartetto N. 2 In Sib Maggiore / Quartetto N. 3 In Sol Maggiore(CD, Album)	2013	Bongiovanni
9	Il Sogno Interpretato(CD, Album)	2009	Bongiovanni
10	Marco Enrico Bossi, Lorenzo Perosi - Andrea Macinanti – Opera Omnia Per Organo - Vol. II - Trascrizioni Da Lorenzo Perosi(CD, )	2009	Tactus
11	Suite N. 5 "Tortona" / Suite N. 7 "Torino"(CD, Compilation)	2008	Bongiovanni
12	Il Natale Del Redentore(2×CD, Album)	2008	Bongiovanni
13	Messa Da Requiem / In Patris Memoriam(CD, Album)	2008	Bongiovanni
14	La Passione di Cristo Secondo San Marco(CD, Album)	2006	Bongiovanni
15	Concerti Per Violino(CD, Album)	2006	Bongiovanni
16	Lorenzo Perosi - Orchestra Sinfonica 'Carlo Coccia' Di Novara, Coro Polifonico Castelbarco Di Avio, Arturo Sacchetti – La Risurrezione Di Cristo(2×CD, Album)	2005	Bongiovanni
17	Gerusalemme(CD, Album)	2004	Bongiovanni
18	La Strage Degli Innocenti(CD, Album)	2003	Bongiovanni
19	Missa Pontificalis / Messa A Due Voci Dispari(CD, Album)	2003	Bongiovanni
20	Concerto Per Pianoforte E Orchestra In la Minore / Scherzo In la Per Piccola Orchestra(CD, Album)	2002	Bongiovanni
21	La Trasfigurazione Di N. S. Gesù Cristo(CD, Album)	2002	Bongiovanni
22	Missa Pontificalis - Missa Secunda Pontificalis(CD, Album)	2002	Ares (2)
23	Don Lorenzo Perosi, Orchestra E Polifonica B. Marcello Diretta Da Renato Beretta – La Passione Di Cristo Secondo San Marco(CD, Album)	2001	La Bottega Discantica
24	Quartetto N.7 In Do, Quartetto N. 8 In Mi Minore, Quintetto N. 2 In Re Minore(CD, Album)	2000	Bongiovanni
25	Lorenzo Perosi, Aldo Bertolo, Tatjana Korra Elmazi, Nella Actis Perino, Marco Camastra, Orchestra Sinfonica Carlo Coccia, Orlando di Lasso Chorus – Il Giudizio Universale(CD, Album)	2000	Bongiovanni
26	Lorenzo Perosi, Arturo Sacchetti – Mosé(2×CD, Album)	1999	Bongiovanni
27	Alessandro Stradella, Lorenzo Perosi – Nativitatis - Choral & Sacred Music(CD, Compilation)	1998	Fine Tune
28	La Passione Di Cristo Secondo San Marco(CD, Stereo)	1998	Nuova Era
29	Messa A Tre Voci Maschili (Cerviana), Con Organo - Messa Da Requiem(CD, Album)	1997	Ares (2)
30	Missa "Benedicamus Domino"; Missa "Te Deum laudamus"(CD, )	1997	Ares (2)
31	Lorenzo Perosi, Coral Stella Vitae – Requiem(CD, Album)	1994	Audiovisuais São Paulo
32	La Risurrezione di Cristo	1994	Sarx Records (2)
33	Lorenzo Perosi - Budapest «Máv» Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Sacchetti, Budapest Choir – Stabat Mater • Dies Iste • L'Inno Della Pace(CD, Stereo)	1989	Radio Vaticana
34	Il Giudizio Universale(CD, Album)	1989	Frequenz
35	Don Lorenzo Perosi, Capella Aquensis, Royal Heerlen's Man's Choir St. Pancatius, Albert De Klerk – Missa Benedicamus Domino / Messa Da Requiem(CD, Compilation, Reissue)	1988	CBS
36	Don Lorenzo Perosi, Capella Aquensis, Albert De Klerk, André Rieu (2) – Missa Pontificalis - Missa Eucharistica - Te Deum	1988	CBS Masterworks
37	Melodie Sacre(LP, Album, Stereo)	1983	Ares (2)
38	Arturo Sacchetti, Lorenzo Perosi – Lorenzo Perosi (1872-1958) - Composizioni per Organo(LP, Stereo)	1982	Dischi ECO
39	Lorenzo Perosi, Coro Della Cappella Dell'Immacolata Di Bergamo Direttore Don Egidio Corbetta Organo Achille Berruti, Coro Polifonico di Milano Direttore Giulio Bertola, Alessandro Togni, Rino Chigioni – Missa Pontificalis Secunda / Tre Pezzi Sacri(LP, Alb	1980	Ars Nova (2)
40	Lorenzo Perosi, Francesco Zambelli, Alessandro Togni, Rino Chigioni, Paolo Pesenti (2), Coro Dell'Immacolata Di Bergamo diretto de Don Egidio Corbetta, Luigi Rossi (6) – Messa A Tre Voci Maschili E Organo (Detta Cerviana) / Missa In Honorem Ss. Gervasi Et	1979	Angelicum
41	Missa Pontificalis Prima / Missa Te Deum Laudamus	1979	Ars Nova (2)
42	La Passione Di Cristo Secondo S. Marco(2×LP)	1978	Ars Nova (2)
43	Lorenzo Perosi, H. Hartkoor Te Boxtel o.l.v. Joop Felix – Missa Secunda Pontificalis	1974	Eurosound
44	Bach / Haendel / Perosi, Schola Cantorum Del Santuario di S. Rita, Giancarlo Ghirardi – Canti Per Il Signore(LP, Album)	1973	Santuario di S. Rita
45	Requiem (Driestemmige Mis)	1972	CNR
46	Lorenzo Perosi - Coro Della Parrocchia di S. Maria Del Rosario, Giancarlo Ghirardi – Lorenzo Perosi Nel Centenario Della Nascita(LP, Album)	1972	Rusty Records
47	Cappella Del Duomo Di Milano, Lorenzo Perosi – Antologia Perosiana(LP, Stereo)	1972	Dischi ECO
48	Omaggio A Perosi(LP, Album, Stereo, Mono)	1972	Libreria Editrice Vaticana
49	Coro Della Cappella Dell'Immacolata Di Bergamo / Lorenzo Perosi – Messa Da Requiem	1971	Angelicum
50	Il Natale Del Redentore	1971	Ars Nova (2)
51	L. Roncalli, N.A. Porpora, G. Mulè, L. Perosi, A. Vitalini – Concerto Spirituale - Orchestra Da Camera Diretta Da A. Vitalini(LP)	1970	Cetra
52	The Birth Of The Redeemer / Saint Mark Passion(3×LP, Album, Compilation, Stereo)	1968	Musical Heritage Society
53	Lorenzo Perosi , Capella Aquensis – Missa Eucharistica, Missa Pontificalis	1967	Artone
54	Coro Della Cappella Sistina, Lorenzo Perosi / Coro Della Cappella Giulia, Ernesto Boezi – Dalla Messa Dei Defunti / Missa Solemnis	1966	La Voce Del Padrone
55	Lorenzo Perosi - Coro Della Cappella Dell'Immacolata Di Bergamo conducted by Don Egidio Corbetta – Missa Pontificalis Secunda(2×7", 33 ⅓ RPM)	1965	Angelicum
56	Fiorenza Cossotto / Carlo Felice Cillario • Lorenzo Perosi – Transitus Animae	1961	Angelicum
57	Lorenzo Perosi, Coro Della Cappella Sistina – Adoramus Te(LP, Album)	1961	Istituto Internazionale Del Disco
58	Perosi, Coro Vallicelliano Di Roma – La Messa - Messa Di Requiem	1960	Ares (2)
59	Coro Della Cappella Sistina Direttore Lorenzo Perosi – Coro Della Cappella Sistina	1957	Odeon
60	P.L. da Palestrina, Lorenzo Perosi, L. da Vittoria – Vatican Choir(4×12", 78 RPM, Mono)	1945	Ara (2)
61	Sistine Choir, Lorenzo Perosi, Antonio Rella – The Sistine Chapel Choir Rome	1931	His Master's Voice
62	Missa Te Deum Laudamus(LP)	-	Ares (2)
63	Il Natale Del Redentore(2×LP)	-	Angelicum
64	Canti Sacri(LP, Album)	-	Ares (2)
65	In Patris Memoriam(12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Album)	-	Libreria Editrice Vaticana
66	La Resurrezione Di Cristo(2×LP, Stereo)	-	Angelicum
67	Filiae Jerusalem(Shellac, 12", 78 RPM, Single Sided, Reissue)	-	Victrola
68	Lorenzo Perosi, Polifonica Ambrosiana, Mons. Giuseppe Biella – Messa "Te Deum Laudamus" Per Coro A Due Voci, Con Organo(10", 33 ⅓ RPM)	-	Musica Sacra (9)
69	Lorenzo Perosi, Polifonica Ambrosiana, Mons. Giuseppe Biella – Canti Sacri Per Coro A 1 E A 2 Voci, Con Organo(10", 33 ⅓ RPM)	-	Musica Sacra (9)
70	Lorenzo Perosi - Coro Della Cappella Dell'Immacolata Di Bergamo conducted by Don Egidio Corbetta – Missa Pontificalis Prima(2×7", 33 ⅓ RPM)	-	Angelicum
71	Luigi Novarese, Pope Paul VI, Lorenzo Perosi – Paolo VI Ai "Volontari Della Sofferenza"(7")	-	Edizioni Centro Studi Volontari Della Sofferenza
72	Don Lorenzo Perosi, Koninklijke Zangvereniging Venlona – Driestemmige Mis In D (Kleine Terts)(10", 33 ⅓ RPM)	-	Telefunken
73	Perosi , Koren Mariae Immaculatae en Cantate Domino o.l.v. Jos Vranken · Jan Schmitz – Missa Pontificalis(LP)	-	EMI
74	The Resurrection Of Christ, Transitus Animae, Requiem Mass(4×LP, Album)	-	Musical Heritage Society
75	Missa Secunda Pontificalis(LP)	-	Ares (2)
76	Messa Eucaristica(LP)	-	Ares (2)
77	Lorenzo Perosi, Licinio Refice – Missa Eucharistica, Missa Choralis(CD, Album)	-	Ares (2)
78	Melodie Sacre di Lorenzo Perosi(CD, Album)	-	Ares (2)
79	La Risurrezione Di Lazzaro(CD, Album)	-	Pro Civitate Christiana
80	Lorenzo Perosi - Coro Della Cappella Dell'Immacolata Di Bergamo conducted by Don Egidio Corbetta – Missa Pontificalis Prima / Missa Pontificalis Secunda(CD, )	-	Ars Nova (2)
81	Missa Prima Pontificalis(LP)	-	Edizioni Musicali Casimiri-Capra
82	Messa Da Requiem(LP, Album)	-	Musical Heritage Society
83	Missa Prima Pontificalis(LP)	-	Ares (2)
84	Lorenzo Perosi, Coro Vallicelliano Di Roma, Antonio Sartori, Giuseppe Agostini – Missa Eucaristica a 4 voci dispari(LP, Album)	-	Edizioni Musicali Casimiri-Capra
85	Perosi, Coro Vallicelliano Di Roma, A. Sartori, G. Agostini – Missa Prima Pontificalis(LP)	-	Edizioni Musicali Casimiri-Capra
86	Lorenzo Perosi, Raffaele Merry Del Val, Cori Dell'Accademia Filarmonica Romana – Inni, Mottetti E Canzoni(CD, )	-	San Paolo
87	Missa Pontificalis Secunda(LP)	-	Angelicum
88	Polifonica Ambrosiana Diretta Da Mons. Giuseppe Biella, Lorenzo Perosi – Messa "Pontificalis Prima" Per Coro A Tre Voci, Con Organo(LP, 10")	-	Musica Sacra (9)
89	Lorenzo Perosi, Polifonica Ambrosiana, Mons. Giuseppe Biella – Messa "Pontificalis Secunda" Per Coro A Tre Voci, Con Organo(LP, 10")	-	Musica Sacra (9)
90	Lorenzo Perosi, Coro Vallicelliano Di Roma, Antonio Sartori – Messa A 3 Voci D'uomo(LP)	-	Edizioni Musicali Casimiri-Capra
91	Lorenzo Perosi, Coro Vallicelliano Di Roma – Missa Secunda Pontificalis A Tre Voci Dispari Ed Organo(LP)	-	Edizioni Musicali Casimiri-Capra

Videos featuring Lorenzo Perosi

Palestrina's Super flumina : Sistine Chapel Choir, 1924

The Sistine Chapel choir was under the direction of Lorenzo Perosi from 1898-1956, although for long periods he was indisposed and the choir was directed by various assistants.

The performance on this gramophone record was directed by Antonio Rella.

HMV