I saw this first as a Corriere della Sera article from today's issue (7/31) with enough detail to make it clear it is not mere speculation. Here's the English story first.
Benedict XVI, recording artist:
Album for release in late November
by Mark Brown
Arts correspondent
30 July 2009
He probably won't try to get down with the kids but record company bosses are hoping that their latest signing will prove popular, not least because he comes with a ready-made audience of about a sixth of the world's population.
Geffen Records, whose roster of stars has included Guns n' Roses, Elton John, Donna Summer and Snoop Dogg, yesterday announced that it had signed a new artist: Pope Benedict XVI.
Rather disappointingly, the Pope's album will not be cover versions – Summer's Heaven Knows, perhaps, or Dogg's Neva Have 2 Worry.
It will, though, feature a singing Pope for the first time on CD. His holiness will be singing a Marian prayer as well as speaking Lauretan Litanies in different languages – Italian, Portuguese, French and German – accompanied by eight original pieces of modern classical music.
The album is called
Alma Mater [literally, the spirit of the Mother] and will be released in time for the Christmas rush on 30 November. Some proceeds from sales will be used to provide musical education for underprivileged children across the world.
Details of the new compositions, by three as yet unnamed composers, will be announced at the Vatican in September. No names have been revealed although it is understood they are English, Italian and north African and not all are Catholic.
What is known so far is that the pieces have been recorded this week by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road studios in London.
Ricardo Fernandez, general manager of Geffen Records UK, conceded that some people might hear "Pope on CD" and think it was a gimmick. "But I think the beauty of the album will surprise a lot of people. They will be surprised by the quality of the music and also the breadth."
Additional info translated from the Corriere article:
The songs featuring the Pope have already been recorded at St. Peter's Basilica, the report says. He was accompanied by the Choir of the Roman Philharmonic Academy.
The album was an idea of Multimedia San paolo, a Catholic organization based in Italy.
Colin Barlow, president of Geffen Records' English branch, was very enthusiastic: "What was most surprising is that the Pope has excellent pitch".
He said even the Pope likes what he has heard so far. "We got a letter from the Vatican telling us the Pope had listened to the tapes and was very happy.about it."
The Times of London has the most comprehensive article today:
Benedict XVI's album
is Christmas contender
for 'top of the Popes'
by Ben Hoyle
Arts Correspondent
July 31, 2009
He is a debut artist with an established global following, a strong sense of style and a unique selling point that could make him a contender for the Christmas Number One album: he is the Pope.
Geffen, the record label that brought you Nirvana, Guns N’ Roses and the disco shimmer of Donna Summer announced yesterday that it will release an album of litanies and popular chants in November with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on lead vocals.
The project apparently has the full weight of the Pope’s personal support and the proceeds will be used to provide music education for underprivileged children around the world.
If it connects to even a small percentage of the world’s billion Catholics it should blow the likes of Jay-Z, Robbie Williams and Susan Boyle from Britain’s Got Talent out of the water in the race for end of year sales.
“The great thing about the Pope is that he’s got a fantastic tone, very soothing but commanding.”
The vital thing, Mr Barlow emphasised, is to treat the artist and everything he stands for with respect.
“It’s about dignity. I’ve worked with Take That and Dame Shirley Bassey. We treat everybody with respect. It’s the same with any of the big artists. (You have to ensure) that the quality is there and that it sounds amazing.”
David Geffen is no longer involved with the record label that he founded and still bears his name, which spares His Holiness some awkward diplomacy.
Mr Geffen is perhaps the most successful out gay man in the world and the Pope has described homosexuality as a “tendency” towards an “intrinsic moral evil”.
The album features His Holiness singing one prayer and reciting seven others in Latin, Italian, Portuguese, French and German. He is accompanied by The Choir of the Philharmonic Academy of Rome, conducted by Monsignor Pablo Colino. They were recorded in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Backing parts on every track, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, were recorded at Abbey Road studios in London.
The Pope’s parts were taken from broadcasts on Radio Vatican, which owns the rights to them. Three different producers have given the album “a very multicultural feel with African influences as well as English and Italian ones” according to Mr Barlow.
The collaboration came about through Mr Colino who grew up in Spain with the father-in-law of a Geffen manager.
“He is the musical heartbeat of the Vatican,” Mr Barlow said. When the Vatican approached the record label with the idea they travelled to Rome to hear a taster. “It had to sound spectacular for it to make sense to do it and it was mesmerising. It’s not just a religious recording. It’s an incredible, spellbinding piece of music.”
It has also has vast commercial potential if Geffen/Universal get their marketing strategy right.
A spokesman for HMV said: “Besides a sizeable Christian community that will be interested in this recording for reasons of faith, it could potentially also tap into a wider audience drawn to its spiritual and calming content, especially in these rather turbulent social and economic times.
“Albums of monastic chanting were quite popular when they came out a few years ago, and just last year a CD of hymns and sacred arias by The Priests made it into the top ten - so there is definitely a market out there for religious-based content.
“A precedent was set by Pope John Paul II, whose voice was featured on the Abba Pater recording of prayers and meditations, which made it into the top 100 in March 1999.
“Coming out so close to Christmas this album could well prove a popular purchase among shoppers looking to for an ideal gift for their gran or aunt, although His Holiness Pope Benedict may well have to compete with the likes of Jay-Z, a rumoured Robbie Williams release and Susan Boyle for the Christmas No 1.”
And beyond that? Mr Barlow is cautious about predicting any quick cash-ins. “A tour? I would hugely doubt that.”
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 31/07/2009 15:40]