Papal Concert of Reconciliation

Last updated

The Papal Concert of Reconciliation was a historic musical event in the pontificate of Pope John Paul II. The concert took place in the Paul VI Auditorium at the Vatican on January 17, 2004, in the presence of the Pontiff, Rav Elio Toaff, the Emeritus Chief Rabbi of Rome, and Abdulawahab Hussein Gomaa, the Imam of the Mosque of Rome, [1] and an audience of 7,000 invited guests. [2] The concert also followed the first visit to the Vatican of Israel's two chief rabbis, both of whom attended the concert. [3] It was conceived, created, and conducted by Sir Gilbert Levine, [4] whose previous musical collaborations with the Pope, including the Papal Concert to Commemorate the Shoah in 1994 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [5] and the Concert for the Pope's 80th Birthday in 2000 with the Philharmonia Orchestra, among others, [6] had earned him the sobriquet "The Pope's Maestro." In realizing the concert, Levine sought to fulfill the Pontiff's wish to reach out to the followers of the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), as part of the celebrations dedicated to the 25th anniversary of his pontificate. [2]

Contents

The concert was webcast and broadcast on PBS and internationally, as well as released on DVD. [7] It brought together performers from across the globe, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, which became the first American orchestra to perform at the Vatican for a Pope, [8] the London Philharmonic Choir, the Krakow Philharmonic Choir, the Ankara State Polyphonic Choir, and members of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, as well as vocal soloists Ruth Ziesak and Birgit Remmert, both from Germany.

The Pittsburgh Symphony, which Levine selected for the occasion, [4] has described the Papal Concert of Reconciliation as an "unprecedented opportunity which remains one of the most significant events in the PSO's history." [8] The concert also marked that orchestra's first known appearance on PBS after an absence of more than 20 years, dating back to the "Previn and the Pittsburgh" PBS series, which ran from 1977-1980. [9]

In an effort to sustain the extraordinary level of enthusiasm shown by Pittsburgh natives for the Vatican performance, the Pittsburgh Symphony, at Levine's initiative, subsequently developed a concert series called "Music for the Spirit." [10] Levine conducted the first three concerts in this series: Verdi Requiem in Heinz Hall, Haydn "Creation" in Cathedral of Saint Paul (Pittsburgh), [11] and Mahler Symphony No. 3 in Heinz Hall. [12] The Pittsburgh Symphony has continued the series in subsequent years. [8]

Program

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, with the support of the Knights of Columbus, commissioned American composer John Harbison, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Music, to write a sacred motet "Abraham," for double chorus and brass, which received its world premiere at this concert. [13] The major work on the program was Mahler Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection." [14]

Harbison dedicated the work "to His Holiness Pope John Paul II in honor of his pontificate-long dedication to fostering reconciliation of the people of Abraham -- Jews, Christians, and Muslims -- and with deep gratitude to Maestro Sir Gilbert Levine, KCSG, for his 15-year-long creative collaboration with His Holiness, which led to the great honor of this commission." [15] The text of the piece, taken from Genesis 17 reads: "And when Abraham was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abraham and said unto him, 'I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect...and thou shalt be a father of many nations.'"

As the Pittsburgh Catholic reported, "Levine selected the Mahler piece because it focuses on the soul's path to resurrection. The pope agreed, because of its theme of 'where the soul is reaching to everlasting life, an idea common to all three religions.' [4] Levine and the Vatican also considered the symphony particularly appropriate because of the first movement's "special meaning for the pope," stemming from its likely connection to the Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz's epic 'Funeral Rites,' which "resonated with John Paul not only generally as the first Polish pope, but also personally, because as a young, aspiring actor, the future pope acted in a Mickiewicz play and memorized his poetry." [16] Following the finale of the symphony, the Pope requested an encore—an unprecedented act for a papal concert. [2] Because Vatican protocol then restricted all concerts to a duration of 72 minutes, only movements 1, 4, and 5 of the Mahler were performed. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is an American orchestra based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The orchestra's home is Heinz Hall, located in Pittsburgh's Cultural District.

Janet Baker English mezzo-soprano

Dame Janet Abbott Baker is an English mezzo-soprano best known as an opera, concert, and lieder singer.

John Harris Harbison is an American composer, known for his symphonies, operas, and large choral works.

Mariss Jansons Latvian conductor

Mariss Ivars Georgs Jansons was a Latvian conductor best known for his interpretations of Mahler, Strauss and Russian composers such as Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich. During his lifetime he was often cited as among the world's leading conductors; in a 2015 Bachtrack poll, he was ranked by music critics as the world's third best living conductor. Jansons was long associated with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra as music director.

As the seat of the Papacy, the Vatican City and its predecessor, the Papal States, has played an important role in the development of Christian music. They perform chants of ancient origin, such as Gregorian chants, as well as modern polyphonic music. The papal choir is a well-known institution that dates back more than four hundred years. Singers were originally from northern Europe, but began arriving more from Spain and Italy in the 16th century. At this time, church authorities became concerned about the words of liturgical texts being drowned out by the traditional melodies. As a result, reformers like Palestrina revised the rules behind Gregorian chanting and Germanium, which were printed by the Medici Press in Rome; these reforms continued to be followed to the present day. A traditional musical instrument was the pipe organ. After the end of the Papal States the Popes' ability to sponsor composers and musicians waned. However it did not end entirely nor did interest in the subject. Pope Pius X and Pope Pius XII both wrote on the subject. In modern times John Harbison and Gilbert Levine have composed or conducted for the Vatican. Although not of the Vatican a Christmas concert where popular musicians performed had been held at the Vatican for thirteen years until ending in 2006. Notable performers at it included José Feliciano, Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick, Gloria Gaynor, and B. B. King. The concert created controversy in 2003 due to statements by Lauryn Hill who used the opportunity to criticize the Vatican over Roman Catholic sex abuse cases.

Steven Stucky American composer

Steven Edward Stucky was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer.

China Philharmonic Orchestra

The China Philharmonic Orchestra is an orchestra founded in Beijing, China, on May 25, 2000, based on the previous "China Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra". It is a division of the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT) of the People's Republic of China.

Lincoln Portrait is a classical orchestral work written by the American composer Aaron Copland. The work involves a full orchestra, with particular emphasis on the brass section at climactic moments. The work is narrated with the reading of excerpts of Abraham Lincoln's great documents, including the Gettysburg Address. An orchestra usually invites a prominent person to be the narrator.

Manfred Honeck Austrian conductor

Manfred Honeck is an Austrian conductor. He is currently the music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Atlanta Boy Choir

The Atlanta Boy Choir is a renowned choral group for boys and men in Atlanta, Georgia. The choir, as it is known today, was founded in 1959 by Maestro Fletcher Wolfe and his wife Roberta Kahne Wolfe. The choir is an ambassador internationally, performing across North America and Europe in many of the most renowned concert halls and cathedrals in the world.

Gustavo Dudamel Venezuelan conductor and violinist (born 1981)

Gustavo Adolfo Dudamel Ramírez is a Venezuelan conductor and violinist who is the music director of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Opéra national de Paris.

Sir Gilbert Levine, GCSG is an American conductor. He is considered an "outstanding personality in the world of international music television." He has led the PBS concert debuts of the Staatskapelle Dresden, Royal Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, WDR Symphony Orchestra, and the Pittsburgh Symphony, and the PBS premieres of works including the Beethoven Missa Solemnis, Bach Magnificat in D, Haydn Creation, and Bruckner Symphony 9.

Wiener Singverein Concert choir of the Vienna Musikverein

The Vienna Singverein is the concert choir of the Vienna Musikverein with around 230 members. It is regularly requested by top orchestras and conductors for large and varied projects.

Brett Mitchell is an American conductor. He previously served as music director of the Colorado Symphony from 2017-2021, Associate Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra and Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra from 2013 to 2017, Assistant Conductor of the Orchestre National de France from 2006 to 2009, Assistant Conductor of the Houston Symphony from 2007 to 2011, Music Director of the Moores Opera Center in Houston from 2012 to 2013, and Music Director of the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra from 2010 to 2015.

The Philharmonia Chorus is an independent self-governing symphony chorus based in London, UK. Since its foundation in 1957 the Chorus has given over 900 concerts and made over 100 recordings. The Chorus Master is Gavin Carr.

The Cappella Giulia, officially the Reverend Musical Chapel Julia of the Sacrosanct Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican, is the choir of St. Peter's Basilica that sings for all solemn functions of the Vatican Chapter, such as Holy Mass, Lauds, and Vespers, when these are not celebrated by the Pope. The choir has played an important role as an interpreter and a proponent of Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony.

Pope John Paul II worked to improve relations between the Roman Catholic Church and Judaism. He built solid ties with the Jewish community in the hope of promoting Christian–Jewish reconciliation.

The London Philharmonic Choir (LPC) is one of the leading independent British choirs in the United Kingdom based in London. The patron is Princess Alexandra, The Hon Lady Ogilvy and Sir Mark Elder is president. The choir, comprising more than 200 members, holds charitable status and is governed by a committee of 6 elected directors. As a charity, its aims are to promote, improve, develop and maintain education in the appreciation of the art and science of music by the presentation of public concerts.

The Papal Concert to Commemorate the Shoah (Holocaust) was the first official Vatican commemoration of the murder of six million Jews by the Nazis during World War II. It took place in the Sala Nervi at the Vatican on April 7, 1994. The concert was conceived and created at the direct behest of Pope John Paul II by the American conductor Gilbert Levine, who had first met the Pope after he was appointed artistic director and conductor of the Krakow Philharmonic, in December 1987. Pope John Paul II, Rav Elio Toaff, the Chief Rabbi of Italy, and Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, President of Italy jointly presided over the event, and viewed it from positions of equal honor.

The Violin Concerto is a concerto for violin and orchestra by the American composer Mason Bates. The work was commissioned by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and violinist Anne Akiko Meyers. It was premiered December 7, 2012, with Meyers and the Pittsburgh Symphony performing under conductor Leonard Slatkin.

References

  1. ↑ London Philharmonic Choir. "Papal Concert of Reconciliation". Archived from the original on 2008-11-20.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Roddy, Dennis B. (2004-01-18). "Pope in peace concert". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2012-08-18.
  3. ↑ Willey, David (2004-01-17). "Vatican concert unites faiths". BBC News. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  4. 1 2 3 Bartos, Patricia (2010-12-29). "Reconciliation through Music". Pittsburgh Catholic. Archived from the original on 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
  5. ↑ Tagliabue, John (1994-04-08). "Holocaust Lamentations Echo at Vatican" . The New York Times.
  6. ↑ Stanley, Alessandra (2000-05-18). "Musical Friend Grants the Pope's Birthday Wish". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  7. ↑ WQED. "Papal Concert". Archived from the original on 2009-03-08. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  8. 1 2 3 Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. "Music for the Spirit" . Retrieved 2012-08-19.
  9. ↑ Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. "PSO History" . Retrieved 2012-08-20.
  10. ↑ Kanny, Mark (2006-01-07). "Concert series aims to memorialize 'Music for the Spirit'". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
  11. ↑ Greer, Peter (January 26, 2006). "St. Paul Cathedral Centenary Concert".
  12. ↑ Kanny, Mark (2006-06-22). "Gilbert, PSO showcase Mahler symphony". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
  13. ↑ Abraham
  14. ↑ Resurrection
  15. ↑ Baskin, Jeremy (2003-12-09). "John Harbison: The Pope's Composer". The Tech. Retrieved 2012-08-19.
  16. ↑ Druckenbrod, Andrew (2004-01-13). "PSO and guest conductor relish challenges presented by Vatican concert". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.