The Monks of Norcia

The Monks of Norcia, a chorale formed of members of a Benedictine monastery in central Italy, gained international fame in 2015 with the release of an album of Gregorian chants. 'Benedicta: Marian Chant from Norcia' topped Billboard's Classical Albums Chart and peaked at number three on the Top Christian Albums Chart. The history of the Monastero di San Benedetto di Norcia goes back to the 10th century but it was closed during the Napoleonic era and reopened in 1998. The monks became well-known for their craft brewery but the success of Gregorian recordings in America encouraged choir master Basil Nixen, who hails from Arizona, to invite British classical music producer Christopher Adler to release a programme of chants from the monks' daily routine, which visitors may witness. Recorded in the monastery, the album features 17 monks, 12 of whom are from America, singing chants in celebration of the Virgin Mary.

Please enable Javascript to view this page competely.