Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611) is considered as a major Spanish composer and one of the most prominent musical figures of the Late Renaissance alongside Palestrina and Orlando di Lasso. Around the year 1565, he was offered the opportunity to attend the Collegium Germanicum in Rome where he completed his studies at the Jesuit Priest Seminary. Victoria was intensely influenced by Palestrina and his musical circle, and his compositions have remained in the Cappella Sistina repertoire up to the present day. The choral volume 186 of the Fondo Cappella Sistina contains a copy of the early version of the Officium hebdomadae sanctae which Victoria subsequently published in Rome in the year 1585. This publication includes all works composed by Victoria for Holy Week: the nine Lamentations on this recording, the 18 Tenebrae responses, two passions and a series of other liturgical music for Holy Week. In this recording, the Lamentations from the Officium hebdomadae sanctae 1585 are augmented by the verses from this earlier version, thereby providing the first complete recording of all lessons composed by Victoria for Holy Week. For centuries, the performance of the Miserere by Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652), composed in 1638, provided the climax of the ceremonies in the Sistine Chapel for Holy Week. From the year of its composition up to 1860, this work was performed annually on Wednesday (eve of Maundy Thursday) and Friday (eve of Holy Saturday).