People
Celebrities
'Alma Mater' - Music from the Vatican featuring Pope Benedict XVI - this prize draw is now closed
To celebrate the release of the forthcoming album Music from the Vatican – Alma Mater, Saga has teamed up with Geffen/Universal Records to offer readers two tickets to the Music from the Vatican – A Celebration of Alma Mater concert at Westminster Cathedral plus five copies of the album
The album, released worldwide on November 30, 2009, will be an enchanting blend of Lauretan Litanies and Marian popular chants with eight original pieces of modern classical music. What makes this release unique is that this is the very first time that the voice of Pope Benedict XVI, speaking and singing in Latin, Italian, Portuguese, French and German, will be heard on an album, thanks to the audio recordings of Vatican Radio. Simon Boswell, Stefano Mainetti and Nour Eddine are the three contemporary composers who have contributed eight specially-commissioned pieces of music for Alma Mater.
Of the composers chosen to write the music for Alma Mater, Boswell and Mainetti are professional composers while Eddine specialises in traditional Arabic music. Proceeds from album sales will go towards providing music education for underprivileged children around the world.
The album features His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, reciting and singing passages and prayers, accompanied by The Choir of the Philharmonic Academy of Rome, conducted by Monsignor Pablo Colino, Maestro Emeritus of St Peter's Basilica, where the album was recorded. The world famous Royal Philharmonic Orchestra plays on all of the specially-commissioned contemporary tracks, with their recording session taking place at the iconic Abbey Road studios.
To watch a video about this release please click here
To listen to audio extracts from the album please click here
The album is available for pre-order on this website: http://order.universalmusic.co.uk/alma-mater/
Reader comments
MY Husband bought this for me today. Initially thought this would be another cd with so so arrangements-- much to my surprise and delight it has totally caught deep into the depths of my spirit with an unexpressible grasp-- thank you for this rare jewel-- which will never weary but will lift my soul. Mother Mary pray for us, pray peace among all men for all your sons and daughters here on this earthly playground that often is torned by discord. sue
Posted by: SUE DEE | 15/01/2010 04:21:43
I bought this album this morning and I have not been able to stop listening to it. The music is truly enchanting and the spoken word of Benedict adds a calming element to the pieces. I would definitely recommend it.
Posted by: Richard | 30/11/2009 00:55:56
