Frankly, the album cover design is decidedly disappointing, almost thoughtless!
For a Christmas-release album, why did they choose to be so gloomily autumnal?
Music From The Vatican:
'Alma Mater' to be released
Nov. 24 in the USA
Decca Label Group
NEW YORK, Oct. 1 -- Stemming from an unprecedented worldwide record deal with Universal Music Group International, Decca (a division of Universal Music Group in America) is set to release the new CD, Music From The Vatican - Alma Mater, featuring the voice of Pope Benedict XVI. The disc will be released in the U.S. on November 24th.
Alma Mater is a stirring and highly emotional collection of eight original pieces of modern classical music. The release is a true event, marking the very first time that the Voice of Pope Benedict XVI has been captured on disc, speaking and singing in Latin, Italian, Portuguese, French and German, thanks to the audio recordings of Vatican Radio.
Proceeds from the album sales will be used to provide music education for underprivileged children around the world.
The album will feature 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 and recorded in St Peter's Basilica.
The world famous Royal Philharmonic Orchestra plays on all of the specially commissioned contemporary tracks, and was recorded at the iconic Abbey Road studios in London.
Simon Boswell, Stefano Mainetti and Nour Eddine are the three contemporary composers who have contributed the eight specially commissioned pieces of music for Alma Mater.
Vincent Messina, producer of Alma Mater, commented, "These three composers are world class and my first choices for the album. A happy co-incidence is that Stefano is Catholic, Simon is 'undeclared' and Nour Eddine is Muslim, thus perfectly representing our aim to produce an album that has universal appeal to all of those who love beautiful music." Collectively, the trio of writers boasts an impressive resume of film scores, TV series and stage productions from around the world.
Plans for a series of international concerts to launch the album will be announced soon
Update on the papal CD
'Alma Mater'
ROME. Oct. 2 (Reuters) – A Muslim, a Catholic and an agnostic composer have contributed music to an album featuring Pope Benedict singing and reciting prayers, which is due for release in November.
Producer Vincent Messina said his choice of Nour Eddine, Stefano Mainetti and Simon Boswell -- who describes himself as "undeclared" -- reflected "our aim to produce an album that has universal appeal to all those who love beautiful music."
"I certainly didn't intend to select or hire composers on the basis of their faith," Messina told Reuters.
"These three composers, I have known them for many, many years and they are all some great film composers ... In particular with regard to the Muslim composer from Morocco, Nour Eddine, the idea came because the roots of Gregorian music somehow we share with the Arabian melodic tradition."
The "Alma Mater" album features recordings from Vatican radio of Pope Benedict singing Marian litanies and reciting passages and prayers in St Peter's Basilica or during trips abroad.
"We will be able to listen to one track in particular where he is singing the Regina Coeli along with a choir from the beginning to the end," Messina said.
"Alma Mater" also includes the backing vocals of The Choir of the Philharmonic Academy of Rome blended with modern classical recordings by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
It will be released by Geffen Records, the label that signed up Snoop Dog and Ashlee Simpson, on November 23 in Europe and the United States, and on November 29 in Britain.
Messina said he had yet to hear the Vatican's official reaction to the album.
"The Vatican is always very careful about communication and so you can imagine using the voice of the Holy Father and use it in a musical album," he said.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 01/10/2009 19:56]