NEWS

Historic free concert at Westminister cathedral celebrating Alma Mater' plus special guest.

One of the world’s oldest choirs performs for the first time in the UK

With Special Guests

Wednesday 2 December

London, 28 October 2009: A historic free concert will be held at Westminister Cathedral on Wednesday 2 December featuring the very first live UK performance of music from ‘Alma Mater - Music From the Vatican’ the album featuring the voice of Pope Benedict XVI. The concert will officially launch the album released worldwide by Geffen /Universal on Sunday 29 November.

This special one-off concert, ‘Music From The Vatican – Celebrating Alma Mater’, is presented by Music From The Vatican, Universal Music and Multimedia San Paolo. The concert will have performances by The Chamber Choir of the Philharmonic Academy of Rome, the first time this historic choir has performed in the UK, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. There will also be appearances from special guests to be announced at a later date.

Don Giulio Neroni, a Saint Paul Priest, devised the concept for the Alma Mater album over four years ago, when Pope Benedict XVI first sang the Regina Coeli, he said: “For me the concert is very important as it brings the album to life and helps to illuminate the importance of the Pope’s visits to the Marian sanctuaries – featured on the album.”

VIPs and celebrities drawn from multi faiths and prominent UK Catholics, plus members of the public will comprise the Westminister Cathedral audience. An allocation of free tickets will be made available to the public on a first come first served basis. Pre-registration and ticket details at: www.MusicFromTheVatican.com

The Chamber Choir of the Philharmonic Academy of Rome, conducted by Monsignor Pablo Colino, Emeritus Chapel Master for St Peter’s Basilica, will perform Gregorian music from the album ‘Alma Mater – Music From The Vatican’. The choir (from very antique origins) dates back to before the 12th Century and this is a rare opportunity for British audiences to see and hear the leading exponents of Gregorian music. The world-renowned Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will perform music from their work on the Alma Mater album.

Monsignor Pablo Colino: “The choir and I are very much looking forward to making our debut performance in the UK, in the famous Westminister Cathedral. We are proud to be part of the Alma Mater project. As the longest serving member of the Vatican I can say with certainty that Pope Ratzinger has a wonderful musicality. I have known six Popes and none could sing as well as him or were as musically aware as he is: this will be evident when people listen to the album.”

The date of the concert coincides with the beginning of Advent and it is anticipated that a seasonal song will be performed.

Vincent Messina, producer of Alma Mater the album, and organiser of the concert, said: “We are delighted to be able to bring the album to life with this great concert and in such a historic cathedral. UK music fans have the opportunity to experience the purity and beauty of the Gregorian melodies performed by this fantastic choir and conducted by the indefatigable Pablo Colino, the acknowledged number one leading arranger and director of Gregorian music and for 50 years now, working in St Peter’s.”

Classic FM will be the official radio partner for the event to be broadcast early in December.