The ‘Sacred Voices’ Choir is in California for its first state tour Aug. 24-29. The choir featuring 40 singers from the most important musical institutions in Rome and at the Vatican performed Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption.
Sacred Voices showcases the great Roman polyphonic tradition of the Sistine Chapel Choir and its most famous composers. It is the choir of the Cardinal Bartolucci Foundation dedicated to the legendary Domenico Bartolucci. The maestro directed the Sistine Chapel Choir for nearly 50 years and was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI for his extraordinary service to the Church.
“It is with great excitement that Sacred Voices brings to California for the first time the extraordinary musical heritage of the Sistine Chapel Choir, with masterpieces by its great composers, from Palestrina to Cardinal Bartolucci,” Pontifical Cantore and Sacred Voices Director Adriano Caroletti told Catholic San Francisco.
Caroletti is the former choirboy and soloist of the Papal Sistine Chapel Choir under the direction of Cardinal Domenico Bartolucci. In 2017, after teaching vocal technique for the Pueri Cantores (student chorale group) of the Sistine Chapel Choir and for the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome, the Cardinal Domenico Bartolucci Foundation appointed Caroletti director of Sacred Voices.
The choir’s repertoire is mainly dedicated to the composers of the Sistine Chapel Choir, according to Alessandro Biciocchi, executive director of the Cardinal Domenico Bartolucci Foundation. Of special focus will be Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, considered the leading composer of late 16th-century Europe, Lorenzo Perosi and Domenico Bartolucci himself. Cardinal Bartolucci wrote music and directed the Pope’s Choir in the 20th century.
California tour dates of Sacred Voices
Aug. 24 Cathedral of St. Joseph, San Jose, at 7 p.m.
Aug. 25 Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, San Francisco, at 7 p.m.
Aug. 26 Cathedral of the Annunciation, Stockton, at 6:30 p.m.
Aug. 27 Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, at 8 p.m.
Aug. 28 Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Sacramento, at 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 29 Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, at 3 p.m.
Absolutely fabulous. I was invited to attend this beautiful concert– but tickets started at over $55, so I and others had to decline, unfortunately.
You were invited but expected to pay for yourself? What a cheap host.
The great Cardinal Domenico Bartolucci was a priest and a Cardinal, just like the great Cardinal St. John Henry Newman. Hoping to see a video of this concert, from one of the churches on the tour, eventually. I heard that 700 people, approximately, attended this fabulous concert at St. Mary’s Cathedral in SF– including many priests and nuns, as well as laymen.
The entire beautiful, sacred (and secular) compositions of Cardinal Domenico Bartolucci were all harmonically traditional, not one bit of painful, ugly “modern” 20th century discordance in any of his works. In a nutshell, Bartolucci’s musical style reflects the beauty of Gregorian Chant, the sacred Roman polyphony of (Renaissance) Palestrina, and the beautiful, melodic warmth and drama of 19th century’s (Romantic Era) Verdi. A perfect combination! Why on earth can’t all “modern” sacred (and secular) composers likewise be inspired by God, to create only beautiful, traditional works?
You do not understand. The invitation was to support this beautiful endeavor. I am elderly, and had some big medical and vet bills to pay, so I was unable to do that right now. You should try to have a good attitude towards the great heritage of our holy Church.
bad invitation, The average cost of a concert ticket in California generally ranges from $80 to over $250. These people have travel and lodging expenses. Would you rather the bishops invite them and make the parishes pay? (Money you put in the collection basket and don’t attend the concert.) Or, have those who can afford it pay for their expenses? Few things are really free. Some usually pay, even if for others. Would a bishop be a good host if he invited everyone and stuck you and every other Catholic in the diocese with the bill?
The music is beautiful, but it’s not a necessity or a high priority for a diocesan budget.
While some constantly complain about poor Catholic music (much of the criticism well deserved), might we rejoice in beautiful music?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPCoS9EgxSU
Thank you, archbishop and bishops, who’ve invited this to your (arch)diocese.
Delightfully pristine. Takes one back to Eden before the Fall.
Music is still lousy at my parish and at all the neighboring parishes. If this group took over the music ministry at any one of those parishes they would be run out of town by the Boomers who are practically the only ones left in the pews at Mass now. They want guitar music that sounds like 60s folk songs.
Why would people pay so much money to go hear the concert when you can just listen to the same pieces on YouTube for free?
Do you think virtual on-line experiences are the same as in-person?
Wouldn’t you want to support good work and gather with other like-minded people?