Francis Is a Hit!
“This is a piece of music that hopefully will be performed at the Vatican some day.”
“My wife was crying during the performance…”
“It was brilliantly written, beautifully performed and transcendently experienced!!!”
(Comments on Facebook page, Buffalo Philharmonic Symphony Director)
“Lightning Strikes Twice…the BPO Premiere Danielpour’s Francis, Who Chose Love Over Power.” (Review, Peter Hall, Buffalo Rising)
This feedback and the comments from our sisters and associates indicate the oratorio depicting nine scenes from the life of St. Francis was a hit. Composed by Grammy Award winner Richard Danielpour with libretto by S. Margaret Carney, the new work debuted under the direction of JoAnn Falletta to a full house at Buffalo’s Kleinhans Music Hall on Saturday evening, with many more attending the Sunday afternoon matinee.
The oratorio, sung in English, Latin and Italian, was a tribute to Pope Francis and focused on key aspects of St. Francis’ life — peace, social justice and care of creation, important elements of Pope Francis’ tenure as head of the Catholic Church. Its debut during what Pope Leo XIV declared The Jubilee Year of Francis makes it “America’s gift for the year,” said S. Margaret in panel discussions held before the performance.
During the day, the Franciscan Federation and the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities sponsored WNY Franciscan Day at the Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart. The program included reflections, a prayer service and a Vigil Mass. Our leadership team was on hand for the day; S. Ann Bremmer answered questions from students as part of a panel. Sisters Caryn Crook and Cheryl Wint handed out materials and talked with the young people at the Vocations Table they set up before everyone attended the performance.
