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Joining the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra were Julian Lloyd Webber, Dame Evelyn Glennie, as well as “Britiain’s Got Talent” stars Paul Potts and Faryl Smith to record David Foster’s “The Prayer,” originally performed by Andrea Bocelli and Céline Dion, according to UK media.
The single will be available for downloading on March 14.
All proceeds will benefit the Disasters Emergency Committee.
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Premiere of ‘Emilie’
Composer Kaija Saariaho wrote “Emilie” specifically for the brilliant Finnish soprano Karita Mattila. It was performed at the Lyon Opera House in central France.
Set in 1749, the opera tells the story of Emilie du Châtelet, one of Voltaire’s lovers, who was a scientist, mathematician, physicist, and astronomer. Her personality, rich in contradictions, offered great scope for the opera.
Many will remember Karita Mattila in “Manon Lescaut” live in movie theatres in 2008. She was named Musician of the Year 2005 by Musical America and as one of the top 20 sopranos of the recording era by BBC Music Magazine.
“Emilie,” directed by Canadian François Girard and conducted by Japanese Kazushi Ono, will play until March 13.
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Cathedral Turned Concert Hall
The largest church in North Africa now hosts concert-goers instead of worshippers.
Built in 1890 on top of Birsa Hill, near ancient Punic ruins and a Roman city, the cathedral in Carthage was dedicated to St. Louis of France (King Louis IX), who died there in 1270 during the siege of Tunis.
Until 1965, the cathedral was the seat of the Archbishop of Carthage and Primate of Africa and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Attracting thousands of classical music lovers to Tunisia yearly, St. Louis Cathedral in Carthage offers three weeks of classical music performances each October.
The 250th anniversary of Johann Sebastian Bach’s death was memorialized in 2007 with a performance by the Tunis Chamber Orchestra.
