sabato 19 settembre 2009

Giving the success of The Priests, the 3 Catholics clerics who signed to Sony for about a million pounds, it didn’t surprise us that the rival Universal counter-attacked releasing an album from the Pope…

 

That’s correct! On the 30th of November Geffen Record, the legendary label now wholly owned by Universal Music Group, who just a year ago opened its London office under the direction of Colin Barlow, will release the LP of Benedict XVI, titled ‘Alma Mater – Music From The Vatican’.

 

Accompanied by The Choir Of The Philharmonic Academy Of Rome and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Pope Ratzinger sings specially-commissioned pieces from composers of different faiths and a collection of Lauretan Litaniers and Marian popular chants, in Latin, Italian, French, Portuguese and German.

 

The album was recorded in St Peter’s Church (as they did for The Priests) and in the iconic Abbey Road Studios, where back in the day the producer Sir George Martin captured the incredible sound of the Beatles.

 

The label said proceeds from the sale of the CD would be used to provide music education to underprivileged children around the world. In 1994, Vatican Radio authorized the publication of a CD featuring Pope John Paul II reciting the rosary in Latin; sold with a commentary in a variety of languages, the CD was an instant hit.

 

On Geffen’s roster there’s also the Caribbean-Sicilian singer Jade Ewen, who represented the UK at the last Eurovision Song Contest, reaching the 4th place, and was previously signed to Sony with her group Trinity Stone, Dame Shirley Bassey and the pop girl-band The Saturdays.

 

Note:  Just a couple of days after we published this article, Jade Ewen left Geffen to become part of the Sugababes, signed to Island (still part of the Universal Group), following the departure of founding member Keisha, who decided to pursue a solo career

 

 

(Peter DeBrando Chiesa)