At 11:30 this morning, in the John Paul II Hall at the Holy See Press Centre, there was a press conference held to present the CD entitled Habaemus Papam, edited by Deutche Grammophon, which assembles the music of all the celebrations during the 2013 Conclave, performed by the Pontifical Sistine Choir directed by Maestro Massimo Palombella, SDB.
Interventions at this morning's press conference were provided by His Eminence, Gianfranco Cardinal Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture; Monsignor Massimo Palombella, SDB, Maestro of the Pontifical Sistine Choir; Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, in the role of the Director General of Vatican Radio; Doctor Mirko Gratton, Director of the Universal Classical Division; and Ms. Ute Fesquet, Vice-President of Deutche Grammophon.
In the month of July 2014, an exclusive agency agreement was reached between the record label Deutsche Grammophon and the Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir. This agreement, signed by both parties in September 2014, provides for two forms of production: first, a series of great ecclesial events, inaugurated by the double CD Habemus Papam, with music from celebrations presided at by Pope Francis recorded live by Vatican Radio; and second, a series of studio recordings by the Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir of their characteristic repertoire, the music that throughout history has been composed for Papal celebrations. The recordings will mostly be carried out in the Sala Assunta of Vatican Radio, located in the Vatican Gardens, but this does not exclude the possibility of recording from the Sistine Chapel for reasons of aesthetic appropriateness.
The two musical CDs, Habemus Papam – on sale in Italy beginning 11 November and in the rest of the world from 28 November – contain a presentation by Maestro Roberto Gabbiani and all the music performed during the Celebrations of the Conclave in 2013 (Mass for the election of the Roman Pontiff in St. Peter’s Basilica, entry into the Conclave, Mass with the Cardinal Electors in the Sistine Chapel and Mass for the beginning of the Petrine Ministry in Saint Peter’s Square), along with the Habemus Papam announcement and Pope Francis’ first address from the Loggia of Blessings. This publication is presented as the first historical documentation of the music of a Conclave. They are all live recordings, with the qualities and limits that this entails. Indeed, one perceives the freshness of authenticity along with the background noise, coughs, the clicks of cameras and even a helicopter circling above Saint Peter’s Square during the Mass of the beginning of the Petrine Ministry (during the Communion Hymn).
The Pontifical Choir is the oldest choral institution in the world and is composed of 20 permanent adult singers and around 30 child choristers (from an associated private school with classes ranging from fourth to eighth grade). The Choir normally performs at celebrations presided at by the Pope, providing a primarily ecclesial service. Its concert activity is therefore directed exclusively towards evangelisation and to the promotion, through common sources, of ecumenical dialogue. To this end, on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, the Choir sang alongside the Anglican Choir of Westminster, in 2013 with the Leipzig Thomanerchor, and in 2014, with the Orthodox Choir of the Patriarchate of Moscow. In September 2014, the Choir made an historic tour in China, performing in Hong Kong, Macao and Taipei. The Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir is based in via del Monte della Farina, 64, Rome, where it rehearses daily.
For the Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir, the agreement with the prestigious German record label Deutsche Grammophon is a tangible response to its mandate, which requires it on the one hand to safeguard the great musical heritage of the Church, and on the other, especially in the liturgical sphere, to participate in fruitful dialogue with modernity. This process necessitates a high level of professionalism, expressed in study, research, daily rehearsals, cultural engagement and dialogue with prestigious choral institutions throughout the world in an ongoing mutual exchange with the Holy See’s academic musical institution, the Pontifical Institute of Religious Music.
Interventions at this morning's press conference were provided by His Eminence, Gianfranco Cardinal Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture; Monsignor Massimo Palombella, SDB, Maestro of the Pontifical Sistine Choir; Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, in the role of the Director General of Vatican Radio; Doctor Mirko Gratton, Director of the Universal Classical Division; and Ms. Ute Fesquet, Vice-President of Deutche Grammophon.
Details provided by Maestro Massimo Palombella, SDB
Director of the Pontifical Sistine Choir
In the month of July 2014, an exclusive agency agreement was reached between the record label Deutsche Grammophon and the Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir. This agreement, signed by both parties in September 2014, provides for two forms of production: first, a series of great ecclesial events, inaugurated by the double CD Habemus Papam, with music from celebrations presided at by Pope Francis recorded live by Vatican Radio; and second, a series of studio recordings by the Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir of their characteristic repertoire, the music that throughout history has been composed for Papal celebrations. The recordings will mostly be carried out in the Sala Assunta of Vatican Radio, located in the Vatican Gardens, but this does not exclude the possibility of recording from the Sistine Chapel for reasons of aesthetic appropriateness.
The two musical CDs, Habemus Papam – on sale in Italy beginning 11 November and in the rest of the world from 28 November – contain a presentation by Maestro Roberto Gabbiani and all the music performed during the Celebrations of the Conclave in 2013 (Mass for the election of the Roman Pontiff in St. Peter’s Basilica, entry into the Conclave, Mass with the Cardinal Electors in the Sistine Chapel and Mass for the beginning of the Petrine Ministry in Saint Peter’s Square), along with the Habemus Papam announcement and Pope Francis’ first address from the Loggia of Blessings. This publication is presented as the first historical documentation of the music of a Conclave. They are all live recordings, with the qualities and limits that this entails. Indeed, one perceives the freshness of authenticity along with the background noise, coughs, the clicks of cameras and even a helicopter circling above Saint Peter’s Square during the Mass of the beginning of the Petrine Ministry (during the Communion Hymn).
The Pontifical Choir is the oldest choral institution in the world and is composed of 20 permanent adult singers and around 30 child choristers (from an associated private school with classes ranging from fourth to eighth grade). The Choir normally performs at celebrations presided at by the Pope, providing a primarily ecclesial service. Its concert activity is therefore directed exclusively towards evangelisation and to the promotion, through common sources, of ecumenical dialogue. To this end, on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, the Choir sang alongside the Anglican Choir of Westminster, in 2013 with the Leipzig Thomanerchor, and in 2014, with the Orthodox Choir of the Patriarchate of Moscow. In September 2014, the Choir made an historic tour in China, performing in Hong Kong, Macao and Taipei. The Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir is based in via del Monte della Farina, 64, Rome, where it rehearses daily.
For the Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir, the agreement with the prestigious German record label Deutsche Grammophon is a tangible response to its mandate, which requires it on the one hand to safeguard the great musical heritage of the Church, and on the other, especially in the liturgical sphere, to participate in fruitful dialogue with modernity. This process necessitates a high level of professionalism, expressed in study, research, daily rehearsals, cultural engagement and dialogue with prestigious choral institutions throughout the world in an ongoing mutual exchange with the Holy See’s academic musical institution, the Pontifical Institute of Religious Music.
No comments:
Post a Comment