Concert to be given for Pope on feast of his namesake

Vatican City, Mar 18, 2010 / 15:26 pm

The Prefecture of the Pontifical Household has organized a concert in honor of the Pope for the feast of St. Joseph, his namesake. A string quartet and an accomplished mezzosoprano vocalist will be at the Vatican to celebrate his “name day.”

On the program for this Friday is a modification of Joseph Haydn’s original work “The Last Seven Words of Christ on the Cross,” which is to be presented in a new version called “In the manner of Haydn” by Spanish composer Jose Peris Lacasa.

Sixteen musical pieces will be offered over the course of a little more than an hour, performed by the Henschel String Quartet and mezzosoprano Susanne Kelling, all from Germany.

The official program from the Pontifical Household presents the quartet as “one of the most acclaimed string quartets of the contemporary scene” for their success both in Europe and internationally.

Susanne Kelling has performed in theaters across Europe and offered recitals in many of the major cities. Her appearances around the globe have been “critical and public successes,” according to the program.

The reworking of Haydn’s “Last Seven words” by Lacasa unites originally separate Latin texts to its seven sonatas. The new version was first performed in 2008 during Holy Week in the Spanish Royal Court.

Following the concert Pope Benedict XVI will give an address to all those assembled in the Clementine Room of the Apostolic Palace for the performance.