Pope Benedict: Concert for a milestone Birthday

Later on Friday Pope Benedict XVI will attend a concert in the Paul VI Hall in honour of his 85th Birthday. The concert is being given by the Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig under the direction of Italian conductor Riccardo Chailly.

The Holy Father will be treated to a rendition of Mendelssohn’s second symphony.

Lydia O’Kane went along to watch the orchestra rehearse and spoke its Managing Director, Andreas Schulz.

“It was let’s say an unbelievable invitation. I remember the invitation what I got in October 2010, I was so surprised, so deeply honoured”…

Mr Schulz goes on to say that the composer Felix Mendelssohn was the perfect choice for this musical evening.

“…it is a wonderful piece and let’s say the right piece for this special event.”

Both Mendelssohn and Bach are composers that are synonymous with the musical history of the city of Leipzig.

Mendelssohn himself was Music Director of the Gewandhaus Orchestra which is one of the oldest symphony orchestras in the world. Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s interview with Andreas Schulz