Review

THE SIXTEEN

After twenty-nine years of world-wide performance and recording, The Sixteen is recognised as one of the world’s greatest ensembles.  Comprising both choir and period instrument orchestra, The Sixteen's total commitment to the music it performs is its greatest distinction.  Its special reputation for performing early English polyphony, masterpieces of the Renaissance, bringing fresh insights into Baroque and early Classical music and a diversity of twentieth century music is drawn from the passions of conductor and founder, Harry Christophers.

Rick Jones talks to the composers and reveals how Padre Pio’s prayer inspired their work

In the 40 years since Padre Pio died, and the six since he was canonised by Pope John Paul II in June 2002, the saint has continued to attract followers. He is venerated from Chicago to Shanghai and it is said that today more Italians pray to Padre Pio than to the Virgin Mary. He is already one of the most popular saints in church history.

The Full Programme for the Padre Pio Premieres on 3 June 2008 at Westminster Cathdreal in London was as follows:

PADRE PIO PREMIERES

Three New Genesis Commissions of Padre Pio’s Prayer After Communion

Stay with Me, Lord

with New Music by James MacMillan, Roxanna Panufnik & Will Todd
and Glorious Sacred Music from Tudor England

By Kind Permission of His Eminence Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor

PROGRAMME

Ten years have passed since I commissioned Roxanna Panufnik to write Westminster Mass that had its world premiere in this very place.  From that experience grew the germ of an idea that led to the creation of the Genesis Foundation where we strive to bring together different sets of objectives that are important to me.

Francesco Forgione unlike his namesake St.

JAMES MACMILLAN, Composer

The Genesis Foundation has now presented its Padre Pio Premieres, three new settings of a Prayer After Communion written by Saint Pio and set by James MacMillan, Roxanna Panufnik and Will Todd. The premieres were performed by The Sixteen under their founder and conductor, Harry Christophers; and they and the Westminster Cathedral Choir also performed Tudor liturgical music for a gathering of 1200 people.