Westminster Abbey choir to sing at St Peter’s in Rome

March 6, 2012: The Holy See has invited Westminster Abbey’s world-famous choir– through the Maestro of the Cappella Musicale Pontificia “Sistina” – to sing at St Peter’s in Rome in June. The Choir of Westminster Abbey will sing alongside the Cappella Musicale Pontificia, the Sistine Chapel Choir, at the liturgies of the Solemnity of St Peter and St Paul which will be broadcast across the world. It is the first time in its over-500 year history that the Sistine Chapel Choir has joined forces with another choir, revealed a joint press release by the Westminster Abbey and Cappella Musicale Pontificia.
The two choirs will together sing at First Vespers in the Basilica of San Paolo fuori le mura on 28th June and at the Papal Mass in the Vatican Basilica on the morning of 29th June.
The invitation to Rome came after Pope Benedict XVI visited the Westminster Abbey in September 2010 and prayed at the tomb of St Edward the Confessor with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, as part of his State Visit to England and Scotland.
The Choir of Westminster Abbey is renowned worldwide as one of the finest choirs of its type. Comprising some 20 boys and 12 professional adult singers, the Choir plays a central role both in the daily choral services in the Abbey and in the many royal, state and national occasions which take place there.
The Cappella Musicale Pontificia ‘Sistina’ is the Pope’s personal choir and sings whenever the Pontiff requests its presence. It consists of twenty men and about 35 boys.
The Pope has asked that arrangements for the June collaboration be made in such a way as to reflect the Christian vocation of the Choir and encourage the enriching mutual exchange of gifts between the two liturgical and cultural traditions. As Westminster Abbey is formally known as the Collegiate Church of St Peter, there will be an important shared resonance as both choirs celebrate their patron together.
As part of the preparations, the Sistine Chapel Choir will be visiting London and will offer a public concert in Westminster Cathedral on the evening of 6th May.
The Dean of Westminster, Dr John Hall, said: ‘This is a wonderful invitation, a fruit of the memorable visit of Pope Benedict to Westminster Abbey, when the Abbey choir played its significant part in the ecumenical liturgy. I am heartened by this sign of the Holy Father’s wish to receive from the rich Anglican tradition that informs the daily worship at Westminster Abbey.’
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend and Rt Hon Dr Rowan Williams said, ‘I am delighted that the Abbey Choir will be taking part in the celebration of St Peter’s Day in Rome. St Peter is the patron of the Abbey; and celebrating together his apostolic witness and example is a powerful reminder of the call that our churches share to be faithful to the apostolic fullness of the Gospel today, “so that”, says St Peter, “in all things praise may be given to God through Jesus Christ” ‘ (I Pet, 4.11).