Providence College performs at St. Peter's Basilica (Rome) on Sunday, May 22, at 5:30 PM

The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter is located within the Vatican City. St. Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world, holding 60,000 people. It is the symbolic "Mother church" of the Catholic Church and is regarded as one of the holiest Christian sites. It has been described as "holding a unique position in the Christian world" and as "the greatest of all churches of Christendom".

In Catholic tradition, it is the burial site of its namesake Saint Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and, according to tradition, first Bishop of Rome and therefore first in the line of the papal succession. Tradition and some historical evidence hold that Saint Peter's tomb is directly below the altar of the basilica. For this reason, many Popes have been interred at St Peter's since the Early Christian period. There has been a church on this site since the 4th century. Construction of the present basilica, over the old Constantinian basilica, began on April 18, 1506 and was completed on November 18, 1626.

St. Peter's is famous as a place of pilgrimage, for its liturgical functions and for its historical associations. It is associated with the papacy, with the Counter-reformation and with numerous artists, most significantly Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475-1564), an Italian Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet, and engineer. Michelangelo took over a building site at which four piers, enormous beyond any constructed since the days of Ancient Rome, were rising behind the remaining nave of the old basilica. He also inherited the numerous schemes designed and redesigned by some of the greatest architectural and engineering brains of the 16th century.

Incidentally there are over 100 tombs within St. Peter's Basilica, many located in the Vatican grotto, beneath the Basilica. These include 91 popes, St. Ignatius of Antioch, Holy Roman Emperor Otto II, and the composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. Exiled Catholic British royalty James Francis Edward Stuart and his two sons, Charles Edward Stuart and Henry Benedict Stuart, are buried here, having been granted asylum by Pope Clement XI. The most recent interment was Pope John Paul II, on April 8, 2005.

Live from Toledo - if it works: The University of Miami Frost Chorale in concert

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UGA Chamber Choir presents first tour concert at the Mirror Hall of Foz Palace in Lisbon on May 21 at 6:30 P.M.

What a magical venue for the first formal concert of the 2011 UGA Chamber Choir Tour to Portugal and Spain: The singers under the direction of Dr. Mitos Andaya will be performing at the beautiful Mirror Hall of Palacio Foz in Lisbon on Saturday, May 21, at 6:30 pm.  The neo-classical Palácio Foz was designed by the Italian architect Francisco Xavier Fabri and built shortly after the great earthquake in 1755, for the Marquês de Castelo Melhor. It was purchased by the Marquês de Foz in 1886 when it received the first of many facelifts. It now houses, amongst other things, one of Lisbon’s Tourist Information centres and an art gallery. It is magnificently decorated internally and the ballroom features outstanding paintings by Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro (1857-1929), one of the leading painters of his generation and a master of realism in Portugal. 

What a magical venue for the first formal concert of the 2011 UGA Chamber Choir Tour to Portugal and Spain: The singers under the direction of Dr. Mitos Andaya will be performing at the beautiful Mirror Hall of Palacio Foz in Lisbon on Saturday, May 21, at 6:30 pm.  The neo-classical Palácio Foz was designed by the Italian architect Francisco Xavier Fabri and built shortly after the great earthquake in 1755, for the Marquês de Castelo Melhor. It was purchased by the Marquês de Foz in 1886 when it received the first of many facelifts. It now houses, amongst other things, one of Lisbon’s Tourist Information centres and an art gallery. It is magnificently decorated internally and the ballroom features outstanding paintings by Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro (1857-1929), one of the leading painters of his generation and a master of realism in Portugal. 

PC College Choir the "special musical guest" for Cardinal Law at Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome

We are very excited at Incantato Tours to having managed that the Providence College Choir is the "special musical guest" today at Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome for a High Mass honoring Cardinal Law - a fellow American in Italy. 

The Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore, or Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, is an ancient Catholic Marian Basilica of Rome. The church is believed to have been constructed under the reign of Pope Sixtus III between the years of 432 and 440. It is considered one of the four major papal basilicas, and together with Saint Lawrence outside the Walls, was formerly referred to as part of the five “patriarchal basilicas” of Rome associated with the five ancient sees of Christendom. Also known as the Liberian Basilica, the church was formerly presided over by Pope Liberius who housed many congregations of early Christians in Rome. Santa Maria Maggiore stands as the only Roman basilica that retained the core of its original structure, left intact since its original construction even following the earthquake of 1348.

The name Santa Maria Maggiore reflects two very important ideas of greatness, that of a major papal basilica and that of the largest Roman church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Following the formal ending of the Avignon papacy when the papacy officially returned to Rome, Santa Maria Maggiore served as the temporary Palace of the Popes due to the deteriorated state of the Lateran Palace. The papal residence was later moved to the Palace of the Vatican, now Vatican City. 

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia. 

The University of Miami Frost Chorale concludes 2011 Incantato Performance Tour with a concert at the Church of Santo Tome on Saturday, May 21 at 8 P.M.

The University of Miami Frost Chorale will perform at Toledo's Santo Tome on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 8 PM. Dating from the 14^th century, Toledo’s Santo Tomé is best known for housing El Greco’s most famous painting, The Burial of Count Orgaz.

Santo Tomé was founded in the 12^th century, but completely restructured in the 14^th century as commissioned by the Lord of Orgaz, the subject of El Greco’s painting. Count Orgaz, born Gonzalo Ruiz, was a Toledo native and Señor of the town of Orgaz. He died in 1312, leaving substantial donations for the enlargement and detailed adornment of the Church of Santo Tomé. A pious man, Orgaz was known to donate to multiple local charities in his lifetime. It is believed according to local Toledo legend that Saint Stephen and Saint Augustine even presided over his burial. A painting depicting this legend was commissioned for the church on March 18, 1586.

The chosen painter was El Greco, who served as a member of the church. The painting was unveiled by Christmas of that year and immediately attracted attention. Spectators were especially impressed by the inclusions of realistic portraits of the Toledo’s most notable figures of the time posing as onlookers. The painting portrays the burial of Count Orgaz with the posthumous assistance of Saint Augustine and Saint Stephen miraculously appearing to thank the Count for his donations to all the religious institutions named after them.

Even more interesting about the painting is the lack of ground, horizon, sky, and perspective. There appears no conflict, and El Greco successfully achieves a convincing expression of supernatural space.

The Burial of Count Orgaz was El Greco’s first major work. Many of his later pieces are displayed in the Toledo Cathedral.

The University of Miami Frost Chorale in Cuenca

Um Frost Chorale - Concert Panorama from Cuenca

Incantato proudly presents the Frost Chorale at Church of San Pedro in Cuenca on Friday, May 20

The singers of the Frost Chorale from Miami, Florida, will perform at the Church of San Pedro in Cuenca on Friday, May 20, 2011.

The Church of San Pedro, located within the hilltop town of Cuenca, was built in the twelfth century atop the ruins of an ancient mosque, shortly after the city was conquered by Alfonso VIII. In the mid-fifteenth century, the church played an important role as ally to Bishop Lope de Barrientos throughout his battles with Don Diego Hurtado de Mendoa, the Marquis of Canete.

The original church was destroyed in 1499 and rebuilt in 1604 only to fall to ruins once again during the War of Succession in 1700. Later in the eighteenth century, during the Episcopate of Don Jose Florez Osorio, the church, like many others within the diocese of Cuenca, underwent complete renovation under the design of architect Jose Martin de Aldehuela.

The present structure boasts an octagonal shape and a large dome covered in intricate lunette detail. They exterior is a prime example of Baroque architecture. Due to both its vast historical significance as well as its unique architectural value, the Church or San Pedro remains the most recognized church in all of Cuenca.

Incantato Tours proudly presents the Providence College Choir  in concert at Chiesa di San Francesco in Maiori at 8:00 PM on Friday, May 20, 2011.

The beautiful Chiesa di San Francesco was constructed in 1405. It is located between the convent and the Cove of the Announced one (Grotta dell'Annunziata) in Maiori. The church has a rough history: In 1435 it was destroyed by the army of Muhammad II (Turkey) and rebuilt one year later by Saint Bernardino from Siena. A sea storm hit the Chiesa di San Francesco hard in 1440. It was destroyed and in 1517 reconstructed on the oriental side of the convent. But the work was interrupted again by a Turkish invasion. In 1590 the construction was finally completed. Last but not least there were several constructive modifications after two seas storm in 1631 and 1674. The church is famed world-wide for the miracle of the springing water in the convent. Please click here to go the picture's origin.

Concerto "Providence College Choir and Symphonic Winds" a Napoli Maggio 18 alle 19:30

Incantato Tours and Concerts in collaborazione con Associazione "Via Nova" presenta Providence College Choir and Synphonic Wind - Coro e Orchestradi Fiati da Rhode Island USA con la Partecipazione di:"Coro delle Mamme di Sisina" (Progetto Oasi Onlus) Un progetto di Gianni Lamagna
Mercoledi 18 Maggio 2011, ore 19,30
Chiesa di S.Agostino degli Scalzi via S.Agostino degli Scalzi,6
"La passione e la fede: sacra e musica profana per toccare il cuore e nutrire l'anima", presentato dal Providence College Choir and Symphonic Winds, of Providence, Rhode Island, USA. Il Coro è sotto la direzione del Dr. T.J. Harper e Accompagnato dal M° Sherry Humes Dane. La Symphonic Winds Orchestra è guidata dal Dr Bill Jennifer.

L’ensemble corale del Providence College Choir include il Providence College Chapel Choir e tutti e tre gli ensembles del Dipartimento di Musica Corale tra cui I Cantori, il coro più prestigioso del college. Il Providence College Choir si è esibito per il pubblico di tutto il New England e nel mondo. Performances recenti includono Russia, Austria, Ungheria, Repubblica Ceca e Francia. Il coro ha condiviso le sue doti musicali in molte occasioni, con numerosi artisti celebri, rendendoli ambasciatori culturali per Providence College, la città di Providence, nello Stato di Rhode Island e gli Stati Uniti. Ogni primavera, il coro conclude la sua stagione con la sua annuale Spring Choral Masterworks Concert. La Providence College Choir rappresenta con orgoglio una istituzione artistica cattolico liberale che diretto sotto l'egida dei frati domenicani accolgie circa cinque mila iscritti. Dalla sua istituzione nel 1917, il Collegio ha assunto una posizione di rilievo nazionale tra le istituzioni educative.
La Providence College Symphonic Wind esegue concerti musica importante per fiati e percussioni comprese le opere dei grandi compositori inglesi e americani del periodo moderno, nonché trascrizioni orchestrali di brani del passato. Sotto la direzione del Dr. Jennifer Bill, il Providence College Symphonic Wind ha avuto una enorme crescita artistica e continua a fornire il College, la città di Providence, Rhode Island e tutto il New England con spettacoli musicali di altissima qualità.

Providence College 2011 Italy Tour Performance Overview

University of Miami Frost Chorale second concert on Wednesday, May 18 at 8:30 PM: Palacio del Marques de Dos Aguas in Valencia

In celebration of International Museum Day, the University of Miami Frost Chorale from Miami will be performing at Valencia’s Palacio del Marques de Dos Aguas on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 8:30 PM.

One of the most central structures in the city of Valencia is the Palacio del Marques de dos Aguas, a former palace and now the home of Spain’s National Museum of Ceramics and Arts. The fifteenth century home was officially declared a historic-artistic monument in 1941.

Historians consider the palace a “paragon of nobility and wealth,” stemming from the fifteenth century during which the Perellos Rabassa family acquired the Barony of Dos Aguas and were ultimately elevated to the status of Marquis by King Charles II.

The grounds originally consisted of three Gothic buildings arranged around the perimeter of a courtyard, as well as a single tower at the northwest corner. The current palace is the product of a radical reform which occurred in the year 1740 and now boasts an irregular quadrangular layout organized around the courtyard and corner towers. The front door was carved in alabaster by Valencia’s Ignacio Vergara, the founder of the Santa Barbara School of Fine Arts.

The palace’s name “Dos Aguas” refers to the two largest rivers in the region of Valencia, the Turia and Jucar, which are represented on the building’s façade by two nude human figures and two falling streams of water.
The ownership of the palace changed hands multiple times throughout the centuries, until the Spanish government officially purchased the site in 1949 for the installation of a ceramic collection assembled by Professor Don Manuel Gonzalez Marti, his wife Amelia Cunat, and Monleon, ultimately becoming the National Ceramics Museum.
The then-Minister of Education, Don Joaquin Ruiz Jimenez, presided over the official inauguration of the Museum on June 18, 1954.
The National Museum of Ceramics and Arts receives world-renowned praise, not only for their vast exhibition of artistic works, but also for the intriguing history and beauty of the palace itself.

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

Full House for UM Frost Chorale in Barcelona

Frost Chorale gives benefit concert in Barcelona

When the Frost Chorale performs in Barcelona on Tuesday, May 17, the concert will be for a good cause: the José Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation. José Carreras is a Catalan tenor particularly known for his performances in the operas of Verdi and Puccini. Born in Barcelona, he made his debut on the opera stage at the age of 11 as Trujamán in Manuel de Falla's El retablo de Maese Pedro  and went on to a career that encompassed over 60 roles on the stages of  the world's leading opera houses and in the recording studio. He gained fame with a wider audience as one of The Three Tenors along with Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti in a series of mass concerts that began in 1990 and continued until 2003. Carreras is also known for his humanitarian work as the president of the José Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation (La Fundació Internacional Josep Carreras per a la Lluita contra la Leucèmia), which he established following his own recovery from the disease in 1988. Supporting scientific research has been one of the biggest priorities  of the José Carreras Foundation. Since 1988, the various José Carreras  Foundations around the world have invested more than €100 million in  research and have financed over 400 research projects.
Leukemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of white blood cells. In 2000, approximately 256,000 children and adults around the world developed some form of leukemia, and 209,000 died from it. About 90% of all leukemias are diagnosed in adults.

Incantato proudly presents the University of Miami Frost Chorale in Barcelona at Santa Maria del Mar on Tuesday, May 17 at 8 pm

The University of Miami Frost Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Joshua Habermann, will perform at Barcelona's Santa Maria del Mar on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 8 PM.
The first communities in what is now Barcelona were founded within the confines of the seaport, overlooking the "Mare Nostrom" and its old church in which Barcelona’s co-patron Saint Eulalia’s relics were buried in A.D. 303 following her martyrdom. This church, combined with a succession of churches on site, was referred to as "Santa   Maria de las Arenas". During the Middle Ages, the first homes outside the walls emerged as the sailing quarter and ultimately led to the creation of the “La Ribera” district, of which Santa Maria de las Arenas became the community’s parish. The devout members of the parish pledged to construct a beautiful church on the existing site. On March 25, 1329, the first stone was laid on the site of the present Santa Maria del Mar, also known as the “Cathedral of the Sea,” located on Santa Maria Street in Barcelona. The temple was consecrated by the Bishop of Barcelona, Pere de Planella, on August 15, 1384. It took fifty-four years of continuous construction to complete the structure. The basilica’s Catalan Gothic style, a style characteristic of purity and unity, is very unique for a medieval building of its massive size. The construction of Santa Maria del Mar even served as the background inspiration for the best-selling novel La cathedral del mar, published by Spanish author Ildefonso Falcones in 2006. Tourist reviews of the site not only compliment the beauty of the structure itself, but also rave about the acoustics of the interior. Many visit the church merely to attend musical performances.

University of Miami Frost Chorale Performance Overview

University of Miami Frost Chorale Spain Tour receives media coverage

The University of Miami Frost Chorale is about to embark on its 2011 Incantato Spain Performance Tour starting in Barcelona and ending in Madrid. "Cantemos" is the musical theme for the tour under the direction of Dr. Joshua Habermann. Marketing is just one of many key elements for good audiences, and the UM  performances are already being announced through internet as well as by other mass media. Here you have some quick links access: Barcelona:
Fundació Josep Carreras:

For Valencia:

Toledo: