The Choir of the Diocese of Rome, the Pope’s Diocese, is making its United States debut in June 2011 with a six-city tour that will include stops in New York City, Trenton, NJ, Morristown, NJ, Newark, NJ, Stamford, CT, and Brooklyn, NY. The choir will perform at Stamford Center for the Arts’ Palace Theatre on Thursday, June 9th at 8:00pm. The tour is an homage to the late Pope John Paul II and the program will include pieces specifically composed for the Beatification Ceremony, classical sacred music, a medley of rare Italian songs from the ‘30s to the ‘50s, and other original scores by Msgr. Frisina, theologian and composer, who will introduce each piece, adding an uplifting spiritual and cultural experience to every performance.
The Choir of the Diocese of Rome is an accomplished choir in residence at the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, the Pope’s Diocese. It has performed at Liturgies presided over by the Holy Father as Bishop of Rome in many significant celebrations, including at the Beatification Ceremony for Saint Mother Theresa of Calcutta, the singing in the Vatican (Saint Peter’s Basilica) during the final farewell to Pope John Paul II, the yearly Mass on Palm Sunday with the Holy Father, the Presbyterial Ordinations, and at the feast of Corpus Christi. It has also graced the liturgies of the Great Jubilee of 2000, the opening and the closing of the Holy Door in the Lateran Basilica, the 17th International Eucharistic Congress, the 15th World Youth Day, and the Third Jubilee of Families in 2000: a world meeting of the Holy Father with Catholic families.
Led by Monsignor Marco Frisina, the Choir performs classical pieces from the international repertoire as well as the original compositions of Maestro Frisina, such as “Jesus Christ, you are my life” which was composed for the 15th World Youth Day and adopted as the music for all youth meetings with the Holy Father.
The Choir has appeared throughout Italy as well as in Germany, Austria, France, Malta, Poland, Czech Republic, and Israel. Their collaborations over the years have been internationally recognized and have included artists such as Italian superstar Mina and Andrea Bocelli for whom Msgr. Frisina composed and arranged pieces from the most celebrated repertory of classical music. Recently Andrea Bocelli, performed the Maestro’s rearrangement of Bach’s “Loben den Herren” at Carnegie Hall.
The Choir of the Pope’s Diocese of Rome will be appearing at the Palace Theatre on Thursday, June 9th at 8:00pm. Tickets may be purchased at the SCA website, www.scalive.org or charged by phone with major credit cards by calling the SCA Box Office at 203-325-4466. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Palace Theatre box office in downtown Stamford, CT. The box office is open Monday-Friday from 10am to 6pm.
For additional information about the Choir, please visit: www.thechoir.it.
About Monsignor Frisina
After graduating from the University of Rome, Monsignor Marco Frisina obtained a degree in Composition from the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia in 1979 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1982. He received his License in Sacred Scriptures at the Pontifical Biblical Institute and is currently Rector of the Basilica of Saint Cecilia in Trastevere, Director of the Liturgical Office of the Rome Vicariate, and Master Musical Director of the Lateran Chapel.
Msgr. Frisina, along with award-winning composer Ennio Morricone, has authored soundtracks for religious and historical movies, as well as more than 150 liturgical hymns published in 25 collections. Noteworthy compositions from Msgr. Frisina include those dedicated to Judaism, “Abraham Suite” and “Shemà Israel”, which will be included in the U.S. concerts. His past recordings include collaborations with Italian and international artists and include Silent Night: A Christmas in Rome recorded in 1998 with Paddy Moloney, the leader of the Chieftans, and Dalla Terra which was sung by Italian superstar, Mina for whom he also composed the songs “Magnificat” and “Nada te Turbe.”
Msgr. Frisina is also known as the musical composer of THE DIVINE COMEDY, the first musical rendition of Dante Alighieri’s masterpiece, acclaimed by both the public and critics as breathtaking.
All performances are held at the Stamford Center for the Arts’ Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic Street, Stamford, CT 06901.
For additional information (directions, parking) visit the SCA website at www.scalive.org or call 203-325-4466.
About the Stamford Center for the Arts:
The vision of the Stamford Center for the Arts is to be the regional arts center for exciting entertainment that enhances and enriches the cultural, educational, economic, and social life of the community. The SCA strives to achieve this vision by demonstrating integrity in all work and relationships, providing service and quality in all activities, fostering and promoting diversity of thought, ideas and culture, providing stewardship for the Stamford Arts community, emphasizing outreach in our community, and offering creativity in all endeavors. Major funding provided by the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism.
