Sistine Chapel Choir announces first ever Detroit performance

“The Pope’s Choir” performs at Detroit Opera House on September 23—tickets on sale Tuesday, May 30 at 10 A.M.

DETROIT, MI (24 May 2017) – The Sistine Chapel Choir from Rome, commonly recognized as “the Pope’s Choir,” in partnership with Corporate Travel and the Archdiocese of Detroit, announced today that it will make its first-ever performance in Detroit during its historic return to the U.S. The upcoming visit represents the choir’s first return to the U.S. in over 30 years. The Sistine Chapel Choir will perform in New York City and Washington, D.C. before the tour culminates in the “Renaissance City” of Detroit on Saturday, September 23, 2017 at 7 p.m. at the Detroit Opera House. Tickets go on sale to the public Tuesday, May 30 at 10 a.m. and may be purchased online at michiganopera.org, Ticketmaster, in person at the Michigan Opera Theatre Box Office or by phone at 800-745-3000. For additional event information visit www.sistinechapelustour.com. To view a personal message to Detroit from Sistine Chapel Choir Maestro Msgr. Massimo Palombella click here.

“The Sistine Chapel Choir is pleased and honored to return to the United States and to come to the city that today represents a cultural touchstone for the world and the culture of the Renaissance,” stated Maestro Msgr. Massimo Palombella, who leads the Sistine Chapel Choir. “The Choir will bring its cutting-edge research and study of Renaissance music, coming right from the archives of the Sistine Chapel, preserved in the Vatican Library, the largest Renaissance music archive in the world – bringing the very best of the Renaissance that will make up the production of a beautiful concert at the Detroit Opera House.”

Maestro Palombella is the only person to have 100 percent access to the Vatican’s archives. He was responsible for bringing back a revival of Renaissance singing to the choir, for which the Sistine Chapel Choir was awarded the prestigious ECHO KLASSIK Award for classical music in 2016.

"It is a great honor to host the choir of the Sistine Chapel in Detroit,” stated Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, Archdiocese of Detroit. “I am very much looking forward to their visit to our city and the opportunities this will provide for both the faithful of the Archdiocese of Detroit and for all of our neighbors and friends to see and hear the Pope's choir. This visit is a privileged occasion for the cooperation between the Church, the civic community, and the business community to share something beautiful for everyone in the region."

“As we approach the opening of our 2017-18 season, we are honored to serve as the setting for the inaugural performance of the Sistine Chapel Choir in Detroit,” said Michigan Opera Theatre CEO & President Wayne S. Brown. “This historic collaboration brings one of the most revered choirs in the world to our city."

As early as the 5th and 6th centuries, there are records of singers being part of the papal entourage. Today, 1,500 years later, the role of the Sistine Chapel Choir, officially known as the Cappella Musicale Pontificia Sistina, remains the same, comprised of a highly-accomplished group of 20 men and 35 boys.

“As one of only three cities in the U.S. tour, the Sistine Chapel Choir’s visit to Detroit is a world-class event for our city and speaks to the incredible cultural offerings we have as a destination,” said Larry Alexander, president & CEO, Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Prior to visiting Detroit, the Sistine Chapel Choir will perform at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City on Saturday, September 16 and at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C., on Wednesday, September 20.

“We are humbled and honored to help facilitate the Detroit and U.S. visit of the world-renowned Sistine Chapel Choir,” said John Hale, President, Corporate Travel. “With the generous support of our partners and sponsors, we are able to bring the breathtaking voices that fill the Vatican to the Detroit Opera House for our community to experience and enjoy.”

The Sistine Chapel Choir’s historic visit to the U.S. is produced by Corporate Travel. Sponsors include Ave Maria Mutual Funds, Comerica Bank, Ford Motor Company, Lumen Institute, Celebrity Cruises, Lear Corporation, Antonio’s Cucina Italiana, The Mary G. Stange Charitable Trust, Metro Cars, Rugiero Promise Foundation, Ideal Group, Red Safety & Security, Delta, lovio george, Ave Maria Radio, Michigan Opera Theatre, Detroit Institute of Arts, Hour Detroit Magazine, Archdiocese of Detroit, University of Detroit Mercy and 90.9 WRCJ-FM.

About The Sistine Chapel Choir The Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir, officially known as the Cappella Musicale Pontificia Sistina, is the oldest choir in the world and the Pope’s personal choir. Last year, the Sistine Chapel Choir was awarded the prestigious ECHO KLASSIK Award for classical music. As early as the 5th and 6th centuries there are records of singers being part of the papal entourage. Today, some 1,500 years later, the role of the Sistine Chapel Choir remains the same, namely, to sing for the papal liturgies. Maestro Msgr. Massimo Palombella leads the world-class choir and he alone has 100 percent access to the Vatican’s archives, the biggest collection of Renaissance music in the world.

About Corporate Travel Based in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, Corporate Travel is a full-service tour company, with dedicated resources and departmental oversight including educational and performance tours, religious pilgrimages and more. Corporate Travel’s mission is to enhance lives and promote culture by creating customized travel experiences.

About The Archdiocese Of DetroitWith roots dating back to 1701, the Archdiocese of Detroit ministers to Roman Catholic parishes, schools, institutions and agencies within the city of Detroit, as well as Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, St.Clair, Monroe and Lapeer counties. There are 1.3 million Catholic faithful in southeast Michigan. The mission of the Detroit archdiocese is Sharing Christ in and through the Church.

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Media contacts:Bridget Burns, bburns@loviogeorge.com, 313-832-2210, 313-218-2505 (mobile)Heather George, hgeorge@loviogeorge.com, 313-832-2210, 248-417-5773 (mobile) Ned McGrath, nedmcgrath@aod.org, 313-237-5943, 313-886-4114 (direct)