4 years after the canonization of Cardinal John Henry Newman, a choir and orchestra from England took one of his poems and transformed it into a concert in the Eternal City.
The idea for this event came in 2019 with the goal of building on the spirit and excitement of the canonization.
SIMON OVER
Founder and Director, Parliament Choir
A month after Newman's canonization was a moment of great significance for me personally, and indeed for many others. At the time, we thought nothing could surpass the experience. But shortly after received an invitation from the British ambassador to the Holy See to perform the work in a Vatican basilica.
Originally, the British Embassy to the Holy See had wanted to have the concert soon after the canonization. However, the COVID pandemic postponed the event until this year.
To bring the poem to life, the British Embassy worked with the Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra. The Foundation's president says that this concert is a prime example of the work they are called to do for the Church and the world.
DR. HANS-ALBERT COURTIAL
General President, Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra
We as the foundation are very happy to be able to organize this concert precisely because we are called by Pope Benedict XVI, and it was also confirmed by Pope Francis, to work with sacred music to do eco-menism. This means to bring Christians from different churches together through sacred music.
This concert is named after St. John Newman's poem, “The Dream of Gerontius,” written in 1865.
The event was held in the Basilica of St. Paul's Outside the Wall in Rome. It has a long-standing connection with the United Kingdom.
AMBASSADOR CHRISTOPHER TROTT
British Embassy to the Holy See
The Basilica itself, of course, has a specific link to the United Kingdom back in the day. I mean, this was pre-Reformation. The kings of England had a link with the Basilica, just as France has a link with San Giovanni and Spain has a link with Santa Maria Maggiore. So we have had a link, there was a link with the royal family and the UK.
Hundreds filled the Basilica to listen to the words of the British saint come to life in song 158 years after it was written.
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