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Delos Productions, Inc. – a long-standing a series of similar events at the Vatican champion of great music’s therapeutic and and around the world. The reigning Pope healing powers – is delighted to release this Francis, who has quickly captured the entire remarkable celebration of peace through world’s attention, is also honored through music. the music-making on this disc.

Distinguished conductor Sir Gilbert Levine’s career is exceptional for his many concerts The following notes and commen- with major orchestras that have been tary have been distilled from Sir widely broadcast on PBS and world-wide. Gilbert Levine’s written notes and The program offered here is also scheduled remarks to his audiences during for a three-year run of PBS broadcasts concerts. in its video format, and availability for broadcast to more than 57 countries via composed his Fanfare for the European Broadcast Union. In the the Common Man in 1942, when the world lineage of such great conductors as Bruno was embroiled in the second world war. That Walter and , a central struggle was experienced personally by both focus of Maestro Levine’s work has been Saints John XXIII and John Paul II, and it did on spiritually uplifting music-making, much to forge their commitment to work celebrating universal human themes and tirelessly for peace. Here, however, the work’s values. performance is dedicated to Pope Francis, whose every priestly gesture since he was The music presented here — in order to elected to the Throne of St. Peter in 2013 has preserve the excitement and atmosphere been to serve “the least of these.” Copland’s of the actual event — was recorded live quintessentially American work has opened in concert, with no “retakes” or audio many important musical occasions since it edits. These performances celebrate the was penned more than 60 years ago. I had canonization of two recent Popes: John the great pleasure of it for Pope XXIII and John Paul II. “” John Paul II at in labeled Sir Gilbert Levine “The Pope’s in 1993. John Paul, like Pope Francis, was no Maestro” for his 17-year collaboration with common man, but he served ‘everyman’ with the “Polish Pope,” creating and conducting every breath God gave him. 3 Next you will hear an excerpt: the ebullient, well as the “Nostra Aetate” (In Our Age), eight-part “Sanctus” movement for double the landmark 1965 Vatican document of choir – from one of my all-time favorite religious tolerance and mutual respect, pieces to conduct, ’s Messa originated by Pope John XXIII. da , perhaps the most famous musical composition in the Italian liturgical Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, canon. Verdi wrote it in commemoration of Dominus Deus Sabaoth. the death of Alessandro Manzoni, the father pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. of the “Risorgimento,” Italy’s great 19th- Hosanna in excelsis. century movement toward reunification. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.. But we are achieving unification of another kind through this piece, because it sets the Holy, Holy, Holy, ordinary from the Latin mass text, “Sanctus, Lord God of Hosts, Sanctus, Sanctus” – which comes from the Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hebrew as “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh,” a Blessed is he who cometh in the name of text found in the Book of Isaiah. An Old the Lord. Testament text thus makes its way into the Hosanna in the highest. New Testament mass, reflecting the Jewish origins of Christianity, and thus illustrating “Bogurodzica” – for a cappella choir – is the bond that unites both faiths. one of the oldest Marian hymns in the Polish canon. It is said to be as old as the The open-hearted Pope John XXIII, who Polish nation itself: a hymn that was sung by worked tirelessly for brotherly love among Polish knights before they went into battle, adherents of all the Abrahamic faiths, but it is also a deeply reverential. When I would undoubtedly have found this music conducted it for the 1,000th Anniversary wonderful, and so it is in his memory and of the Diocese of Kraków in the Basilica honor that it is heard here. John Paul II of Saint Mary during in the Jubilee Year also would have found it a terrific means 2000, I thought I would be leading only the of reconciling the two religions, truly wonderful Philharmonic Choir epitomizing as it does precisely what we are that had been specially flown to Poland for celebrating here: peace through music – as that concert. But, when the choir began the 4 hymn, I started to hear that they were not To have mercy upon us and hand it over to singing alone. After a few bars, every one us! in the Basilica had risen to their feet as one, Kyrie eleison! chanting along with us. That ancient church Son of God, for Thy Baptist’s sake, seemed to float on the Polish spirit let loose Hear the voices, fulfill the pleas we make! by this beloved cultural artifact that they all Listen to the prayer we say, knew by heart. That primordial tune and the For what we ask, give us today: candles that illuminated that magnificent Life on earth free of vice; sanctuary seemed to make those stone walls After life: paradise! soar, as if by some mystical command. It was Kyrie eleison! an experience that few who were there will ever forget. With the Krakow Philharmonic choir, from the royal capital of Poland, Henryk Górecki was one of the great Polish participating in its performance here, may it composers. I came to know him in Poland affect you in similar fashion. during my years as Music Director of the Krakow Philharmonic. I had the incredible Bogurodzica dziewica, honor of performing his Totus Tuus in the Bogiem sławiena Maryja, composer’s presence. Gorecki’s face lit up as U twego syna Gospodzina Matko zwolena, he heard and felt the spirit of his creation. Maryja! Zyszczy nam, spusci nam. Kyrie That concert commemorated the first elison! anniversary of 9/11. And this was the Polish Twego dziela Krzciciela, bozycze, work chosen for that solemn occasion in Usłysz głosy, napełn mysli człowiecze. tribute to the victims of those horrific terror Słysz modlitwe, jaz nosimy, attacks. That 2002 concert in the Church A dac raczy, jegoz prosimy: of Saints Peter and Paul in Krakow, which A na swiecie zbozny pobyt, His Holiness helped to plan, was broadcast Po zywocie rajski przebyt. throughout the world. Kyrie elison! Totus Tuus is a setting for a capella chorus Virgin, Mother of God, of the prayer that was Pope John Paul God-famed Mary! II’s Marian motto: “All for You, Mother Ask Thy Son, our Lord, God-named Mary, of God.” Górecki was one of John Paul’s 5 favorite Polish composers. This work is I take you for my all. dedicated to His Holiness, and was written O Mary, give me your heart. for performance on the occasion of the Pontiff’s third pilgrimage to his native land Leonard Bernstein is the reason I became in June of 1987. a conductor. I watched him on television, I observed his infectious enthusiasm for Though it springs from the very heart music; and, from his example, dared to think of Catholicism, yet it reaches out with a that even I, as an American, could become universality that is remarkable. Everyone a conductor, in an era when that was truly who has heard this piece feels its peace, its rare. And it was Maestro Bernstein who incredible sense of fulfillment, and the sense taught me the wonders of television, with of unity that is built into the very fabric of its ability to reach millions all over the globe the music. That Kraków performance, with with the joy of music. Maestro Górecki in the audience, ended in reverential silence, as John Paul knew it On April 7, 1994, I had the deep and humbling would, so attuned was he to the power of honor to create and conduct for John Paul music to capture the spiritual essence of truly II the Papal Concert to Commemorate important commemorative occasions. Again, the Shoah (Holocaust). What music could the Kraków Philharmonic choir performs possibly encompass the depths of suffering this music together with Washington Choral of the Holocaust? In Chichester Psalms Arts Society, bringing together musicians of (1965), Bernstein – a deeply committed, yet both nations to bring alive the spirit of both ecumenically-minded American Jew – set Górecki and John Paul II. Psalm Texts, in Hebrew, for performance at the Three Choirs Festival, which takes Totus tuus ego sum, place in cathedrals at the very heart of the et omnia mea tua sunt. Church of England. And it was to Bernstein’s Accipio te in mea omnia creative soul that I entrusted the expression Praebe mihi cor tuum, Maria of the inexpressible on that historic night in (reprise) the Sala Nervi at the Vatican: a concert that was hallowed by the attendance of Holocaust I belong entirely to you, survivors and their progeny from around the and all that I have is yours. world. 6 The Chichester Psalms are by turns Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye ebullient, plaintive, and heart-wrenching. lands. But they end in the softest, most uplifting Serve the Lord with gladness. prayer: “Behold how good and how pleasant Come before His presence with singing. it is when brothers come together as one.” Know that the Lord, He is God. This is the very essence of “Nostra Aetate”— It is He that has made us, and not we the essential search for Peace among all ourselves. God’s children: a quest at the heart of the We are His people and the sheep of His Pontificates of both Saints John XXIII and pasture. John Paul II. Come unto His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Introduction: Psalm 108, verse 2 Be thankful unto Him and bless His name. The Lord is good, Urah, hanevel, v’chinor! His mercy everlasting A-irah shahar! And His truth endureth to all generations.

Movement I: Psalm 100 Movement II: Psalm 23, verses 1-4

Hari’u l’Adonai kol ha’arets. Adonai ro-i, lo echsar. Iv’du et Adonai b’simcha Bin’ot deshe yarbitseini, Bo’u l’fanav bir’nanah. Al mei m’nuhot y’nahaleini, D’u ki Adonai Hu Elohim. Naf’shi y’shovev, Hu asanu v’lo anahnu. Yan’heini b’ma’aglei tsedek, Amo v’tson mar’ito. L’ma’an sh’mo. Bo’u sh’arav b’todah, Gam ki eilech B’gei tsalmavet, Hatseirotav bit’hilah, Lo ira ra, Hodu lo, bar’chu sh’mo. Ki Atah imadi. Ki tov Adonai, l’olam chas’do, Shiv’t’cha umishan’techa V’ad dor vador emunato. Hemah y’nachamuni. Awake, psaltery and harp: I will rouse the dawn!

7 Psalm 2, verses 1-4 Through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, Lamah rag’shu goyim For Thou art with me. Ul’umim yeh’gu rik? Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Yit’yats’vu malchei erets, V’roznim nos’du yahad Why do the nations rage, Al Adonai v’al m’shicho. And the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, N’natkah et mos’roteimo, And the rulers take counsel together V’nashlichah mimenu avoteimo. Against the Lord and against His anointed. Yoshev bashamayim Saying, let us break their bands asunder, Yis’chak, Adonai And cast away their cords from us. Yil’ag lamo! He that sitteth in the heavens Shall laugh, and the Lord Psalm 23: (continued), verses 5-6 Shall have them in derision!

Ta’aroch l’fanai shulchan Thou preparest a table before me Neged tsor’rai In the presence of my enemies, Dishanta vashemen roshi Thou anointest my head with oil, Cosi r’vayah. My cup runneth over. Ach tov vachesed Surely goodness and mercy Yird’funi kol y’mei chayai Shall follow me all the days of my life, V’shav’ti b’veit Adonai And I will dwell in the house of the Lord L’orech yamim. Forever

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Movement III: Psalm 131 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me beside the still waters, Adonai, Adonai, He restoreth my soul, Lo gavah libi, He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, V’lo ramu einai, For His name’s sake. V’lo chilachti Yea, though I walk Big’dolot uv’niflaot Mimeni. 8 Im lo shiviti Soon after his first months of residency V’domam’ti, there in1862, made Naf’shi k’gamul alei imo, his home in Vienna — the world’s most Kagamul alai naf’shi. important musical city – where composers Yahel Yis’rael el Adonai like Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert – Me’atah v’ad olam and later Mahler, and Bruckner – practiced their wondrous crafts. While he had begun Finale: Psalm 133, verse 1 to sketch out parts of what was to become his Symphony No. 1 as early as 1854, he Hineh mah tov, – especially after settling in Beethoven’s Umah na’im, old stomping grounds – was increasingly Shevet achim haunted by that immortal master’s shadow, Gam yahad once exclaiming “I will never write a symphony – you have no idea what it feels Lord, Lord, like for someone like me to constantly hear My heart is not haughty, a giant like that marching along behind Nor mine eyes lofty, me.” But after completing successful Neither do I exercise myself works like his two serenades, the German In great matters or in things Requiem and the Haydn Variations, he Too wonderful for me to understand. finally gained the confidence he needed Surely I have calmed to complete his first symphony – the first And quieted myself, Vienna performance of which he himself As a child that is weaned of his mother, conducted not long after its 1876 premiere My soul is even as a weaned child. in Karlsruhe. Let Israel hope in the Lord From henceforth and forever. Like Brahms – who favored “absolute” sym- phonic writing without texts – John Paul II Behold how good strongly believed that music could express what And how pleasant it is, words can sometimes fail to do. He believed For brethren to dwell that we could all find our common humanity together in unity. in the uplifting majesty of music’s art. Given such an attitude, I was the most privileged of 9 artists, blessed with the greatest of patrons. language of the soul: a language open and His Holiness would have been keen to holy to adherents of all faiths, and in all follow the musical argument of Brahms’ “ways” to God, as Nostra Aetate so simply first symphony, with which we close and eloquently states. this program. For it mirrors in sound the struggles of all mankind and our – Sir Gilbert Levine, with contributions by yearning to be at one with God – from the Lindsay Koob powerful soaring line of the opening of the first movement to the majesty of the symphony’s closing orchestral hymn, with Sir Gilbert Levine every mortal trial, human joy and earthly pain in between. It is pure music. Here we American conductor Sir Gilbert Levine has need no words to understand its “meaning” led a distinguished international career, completely. conducting great orchestras worldwide, and making history along the way. I remember vividly how John Paul would follow just such musical journeys over my In North America he has conducted 17 years of conducting for him. He would the Philadelphia Orchestra, listen with an intensity I had never observed Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, San before – as if he could see into the very heart Francisco Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, of the music, and experience it deeply, as in Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Montreal Symphony the most profound and reverent of prayers. and Toronto Symphony, among others. While in Europe, he has led the Staatskapelle Brahms was indeed awe-stricken at the Dresden, London Philharmonic, Royal power of Beethoven’s Ninth. But where Philharmonic, , Beethoven needed the words of Schiller’s WDR Symphony (Cologne), L’Orchestre de “Ode to Joy” to bring his symphonic oeuvre la Bastille (Paris), Bayerische Staatsorchester to a close, Brahms finally found his own (Munich) and the RSO Berlin, among other powerful musical voice to be one which ensembles. needed no words at all. His First Symphony is pure and direct, and touches each of us, Maestro Levine has been hailed by 3SAT, without any language, save the musical (German-Austrian-Swiss Television) as 10 “an outstanding figure in the world of international music television,” and has conducted the PBS debuts of a number of Europe’s great orchestras, including the Staatskapelle Dresden, Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He also led the Pittsburgh Symphony back to Public Television after an absence of more than 25 years.

Sir Gilbert has been profiled on “60 Minutes,” CBS “Sunday Morning,” and “,” as well as in the New York Times, , Newsweek, London’s Muso Magazine (in their “Living Legends” series), and Germany’s leading classical music publication, Das Orchester – among many other national and international publications.

Educated at Juilliard, Princeton (A.B.) and Yale (M.A.) – and subsequently serving as assistant to both Sir and – Maestro Levine first made international headlines when he was named Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Kraków Philharmonic in 1987, becoming the first American to head a major orchestra behind the Iron Curtain. He conducted that orchestra on international tours to Europe, the Far 11 East and the major concert halls of North since Mozart. Pope Benedict XVI further America, including Chicago’s Orchestra recognized Sir Gilbert’s work when he Hall, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, bestowed upon him the Silver Star of Saint Severance Hall, and Boston’s Symphony Gregory, the highest Pontifical honor Hall in 1993. accorded a Jew in Vatican history.

From 1988-2005, Maestro Levine created Sir Gilbert’s memoir, “The Pope’s Maestro,” and conducted concerts for His Holiness was published by Wiley in the U.S. and the Pope John Paul II, at the Vatican and U.K. in 2010, and was published in Poland around the world, including the historic in 2012. Papal Concert to Commemorate the Holocaust (1994), and the Papal Concert of Theodore Nisbett (boy solo) Reconciliation (2004). In the year 2000, Sir Gilbert was appointed Artistic Director and Theodore Nisbett was born in 2000 and Conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra’s – at the age of seven – he joined St Paul’s “Millenium Creation Series,” touring to Cathedral, where he rose to Head Chorister. the US, UK and continental Europe. And, As a chorister he sings seven services a week from 2004-2006, he created and conducted during term together with special services the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s and concerts, most recently performing “Concerts of Music for the Spirit,” including at HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and performances of the second and third the funeral of Baroness Thatcher, as well as Mahler Symphonies, the Verdi Requiem in recording for Hyperion. He has undertaken Heinz Hall and Haydn’s Creation in Saint many solos, including arias from Bach’s Paul Cathedral. St John Passion, Handel’s Messiah and Tippett’s St. John Service (broadcast live For his artistic contributions to better on BBC Radio 3). In 2013, he sang excerpts understanding among people of all faiths, from the Ceremony of Carols in “Nocturne,” Sir Gilbert Levine was invested by Pope a documentary about the life and music John Paul II as a Knight-Commander of of , and he recently the Equestrian Order of Saint Gregory performed in Mahler’s Third Symphony at the Great, the highest Papal Knighthood the Royal Festival Hall. accorded a non-ecclesiastical musician 12 Orchestra of St. Luke’s Orchestra of St. Luke’s: Katy Clark, President & Executive Director; Charles The Orchestra of St. Luke’s (OSL) is one Hamlen, Vice President for Artists & of America’s foremost and most versatile Programs; Valerie Broderick, Vice President orchestras, regularly collaborating with & General Manager the world’s greatest artists and performing approximately 70 concerts each year – Violin: Krista Bennion Feeney (Concert- including its Carnegie Hall Orchestra Series, master), Mayuki Fukuhara, Robin Chamber Music Series at The Morgan Bushman, Conrad Harris, Karl Kawahara, Library & Museum and Museum, Anca Nicolau, Ellen Payne, Robert and a summer residency at Caramoor Music Shaw, Mineko Yajima, Sophie Arbuckle, Festival. OSL has commissioned more Karen Dekker, Keats Dieffenbach, Pala than 50 new works; given more than 150 Garcia, Rachel Golub, Gregor Kitzis, world, US, and New York City premieres; Fritz Krakowski, Elizabeth Lim-Dutton, and appears on more than 90 recordings, Elizabeth Miller, Andrea Schultz, Brendan including four Grammy Award-winning Speltz, Chala Yancy, Robin Zeh albums and seven releases on its own label, Viola: Louise Schulman, David Cerutti, St. Luke’s Collection. Pablo Heras-Casado Meena Bhasin, Ronald Lawrence, Daniel is OSL’s principal conductor. OSL grew out Panner, Ann Roggen, Liuh-Wen Ting, of a chamber ensemble that began giving Jessica Troy concerts at the Church of St. Luke in the Cello: Myron Lutzke, Daire FitzGerald, Fields in Greenwich Village in 1974. Today, Rosalyn Clarke, Eliot Bailen, Jane Cords- St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble con-sists of 21 O’Hara, Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf, Arthur virtuoso artists who make up OSL’s artistic Fiacco, Maxine Neuman core and are dedicated to a diverse repertoire Double Bass: John Feeney, Anthony spanning Baroque to contemporary. Falanga, Lewis Paer, Melanie Punter, Gregg OSL first performed under Sir Gilbert August, Brian Cassier, Pawel Knapik Levine in 2005 in Washington, D.C., Flute: Elizabeth Mann, Sheryl Henze, Susan performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. Rotholz 9 and the world premiere of Richard Oboe: Stephen Taylor, Melanie Feld Danielpour’s “Washington Speaks”. Clarinet: Jon Manasse, Meryl Abt : Cynde Iverson, Gil Dejean, 13 William Hestand, Rose Vrbsky and has participated in many prestigious Horn: Stewart Rose, Kyle Hoyt, Patrick international festivals including Maggio Pridemore, Eric Reed, Alana Vegter Musicale Fiorentino, Edinburgh Festival, Trumpet: Kevin Cobb, Jason Covey, John and Festival d’Art Sacré de Paris. It was Dent, Paul Murphy also the first Polish ensemble to perform in Trombone: Michael Powell, Kenneth Finn, the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. The Kraków John Rojak Philharmonic Choir has performed under Tuba: Kyle Turner Sir Gilbert Levine twice before Pope John Timpani: Maya Gunji Paul II at the Vatican: in the concert to Percussion: Barry Centanni, Javier Diaz, celebrate the 10th anniversary of John Daniel Haskins, Jeffrey Irving, David Paul II’s pontificate in 1988, and in the Mancuso, David Nyberg, John Ostrowski Papal Concert of Reconciliation, with the Harp: Victoria Drake, Megan Levin Ankara State Polyphonic Choir, London Philharmonic Choir and Mendelssohn Kraków Philharmonic Choir Choir of Pittsburgh, joining the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in celebration of The Kraków Philharmonic Choir is the 25th Anniversary of Saint John Paul’s an integral ensemble of the Kraków pontificate in 2004. Philharmonic; it was established in Poland immediately following World The Choral Arts Society of Washington War II. Distinguished Artistic Directors in the Philharmonic’s 70-year history The Choral Arts Society of Washington have included Stanisław Skrowaczewski, (Choral Arts) is a prestigious organization and Sir Gilbert with a rich history of performing locally, Levine. In addition to its concerts nationally and internationally. Comprised accompanying the Kraków Philharmonic of over 170 singers, the Choral Arts Chorus Orchestra, the Kraków Philharmonic has performed with the National Symphony Choir, a fully professional vocal ensemble, Orchestra, other world-class orchestras, has performed with such leading European conductors, solo artists and ensembles. orchestras as the Wiener Symphoniker, In its 49th year, this all-volunteer chorus Orchestra dell’ Accademia Nazionale di is an integral part of musical life in Santa Cecilia and the Staatskapelle Dresden Washington, D.C. Under the direction of 14 Artistic Director Scott Tucker, the Society the Performing Arts and other prominent produces an annual subscription concert D.C.–area venues. season at the John F. Kennedy Center for

Recorded in concert on May 5, 2014 at Washington, D.C.’s Constitution Hall

Delos and Sir Gilbert extend special thanks to Tom and Gayle Benson; Daniel J. Berger and Professor Stephen J. Schiffman, Pax Per Musicam Foundation; Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero, Italy; John J. DeGioia, President ; The Hariri Foundation; Alfred H. Moses and Fern Schad; Ambassador Cecilia Nahón, Argentina; Sharon Percy Rockefeller, President, WETA; Ambassador Ryszard Schnepf, Poland; Paul and Chan Tagliabue; Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, Papal Nuncio; and Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington. Producer: Blanton Alspaugh (Grammy Winner: Classical Producer of the Year 2013) Sound Engineers: Mark Donahue, Jesse Brayman Sound Mix: Mark Donahue (Grammy Winner: Best Engineered Classical Album, 2010 & 2012) Recording, Production and Post-Production: Soundmirror, Boston

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