By Christina Gray
Lead Writer of CSF Magazine
A vivid late-summer sunset backlit the much-anticipated ‘Sacred Voices’ Choir performance in heavenly hues at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption on Aug. 25. Approximately 700 guests filled the pews for the prestigious choir’s first performance in San Francisco, including Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone and San Francisco’s Italian General Consul Massimo Carnelos.
The local program was the choir’s second date on a state tour Aug. 24-29.
Sacred Voices includes 40 singers from the most important musical institutions in Rome and at the Vatican. It showcases the great Roman polyphonic tradition of the Sistine Chapel Choir celebrated since the Renaissance for its emphasis on “pure vocal singing” without musical accompaniment. It is the choir of the Cardinal Bartolucci Foundation dedicated to the legendary Domenico Bartolucci, who directed the Sistine Chapel Choir for nearly 50 years.
Before the choir’s performance, an ebullient Archbishop Cordileone greeted guests and led them in prayer after highlighting the foundation’s mission of “evangelizing through sacred music.”
“I’m sensing there is a thirst for the sacred in the world today and among our fellow Catholics as well,” the archbishop said in a nod to the large crowd, some of whom were seen moved to tears during the 90-minute program. “These are such great treasures in the Church’s patrimony that we have, the sacred polyphony, and all the compositions throughout the centuries.”
He noted the timeless quality of the Church’s sacred music repertoire tradition.
“As Pope Benedict pointed out, what was beautiful and sacred in the past remains beautiful and sacred today,” he said. “It is beautiful in every age and every culture.”
Pontifical Cantore and Sacred Voices Director Adriano Caroletti led the program’s 14 individual compositions, which included soprano, tenor, bass and organ solos. Caroletti is a former choirboy and soloist of the Papal Sistine Choir and a protege of Domenico Bartolucci. He taught vocal technique at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music and has performed at some of the most important papal celebrations at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
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.
The first half of the San Francisco program included six compositions, including “Exaltabo te,” an Ash Wednesday offertory by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594), “Quo abiit,” (Song of Songs) by Domenico Bartolucci (1917-2013), performed by sopranist Gianluca Alonzi, and “Domine, Tu mihi lavas pedes,” (“Washing of the Feet”) by Domenico Bartolucci, performed in tenor by Francescantonio Bille, and in bass by David Maria Gentile. The second half included a riveting solo of “Ave Maria” (Pietro Mascagni 1863-1945) by soprano Maria Tomassi. The finale included, “Christus est” by Domenico Bartolucci, a sequence from Oratorio “La Nativita.”
The interlude between the first and second half of the program featured organist Davide Bucci on the cathedral’s magnificent Fratelli Ruffatti organ. Pope St. John Paul II was quoted as calling the Italian-made organ “the instrument of sacred music par excellence.” Bucci also accompanied select pieces of the program.
There was a palpable sense of occasion in the cathedral plaza in the hour or so before the doors opened for the 7 p.m. performance. The joy of six young Marian Sisters of Santa Rosa was evident as winds whipped their blue and white habits. Other guests arrived in lay finery, alone, or with partners or family members, some in wheelchairs or with walkers. Many posed for “selfies” with the new bronze sculpture of St. Francis of Assisi installed just last week in the center of the plaza. The enormous sculpture that depicts St. Francis with hands gently embracing the world was designed by Catholic sculptor Timothy Schmalz for the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the “little saint’s” death in October.
St. Brendan parishioners Ayn McGee and her husband Chris Rillo called the performances “stunning” as the evening concluded. They attended with Franco Cirelli, a St. Paul parishioner. All are members of the Order of Malta.
St. Thomas More pastor Father Rick Van de Water said the show was “quite an experience.” “I was thinking the whole time how amazing these people are, having so much beauty in their lives.”
Star of the Sea parishioners Maureen and George Arriola said they saw their children’s choir teacher at Stella Maris Academy at the performance. “I just said to her, that’s our goal, right?,” Maureen said with a smile.
Remaining California tour dates:
Aug. 27 Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA, at 8 p.m.
Aug. 28 Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Sacramento, CA, at 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 29 Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, CA, at 3 p.m.
For information on Sacred Voices visit https://coro.fondazionebartolucci.it/en/home-eng/
