Future concert.

Was at St. Hyacinth's last night for Mass. Someone decided to misbehave, so I was out in the vestibule pacing.
I happened to see this poster advertising a concert at St. Hyacinth's on April 11.
It was for "Tu Es Petrus", composed in 2005 by then 36 year old Piotr Rubik, and it is about Pope John Paul II.
(It is also going to be performed at the Arie Crown Theater.)

According to the website for Christopher Entertainment:

Tu Es Petrus is a performance in which well over a hundred artists will participate. A 30-voice choir comprising the best talent from Chicago will perform alongside the original 32-voice choir and 6 vocalists, as well as an orchestra consisting of 64 musicians from Poland. This enormous undertaking – the first of its kind on USA soil – has been the most popular event of its type in Poland, with every concert there sold out.

The Tu Es Petrus oratorio is an amazing composition based on a unique poetic tale about the most important mysteries of humanity that were fulfilled in the life of an exceptional man who touched millions of hearts around the world. This masterpiece is dedicated to the late pope – John Paul II.

Known as “The Witness to Hope”, John Paul II is widely regarded as one of the most respected people of our time; a spiritual leader who championed peace, justice and the rights of the disadvantaged.

The oratorio, which has already touched thousands, will rekindle unforgettable memories from the life and pontificate of the late John Paul II and promises to wow the audience with its soaring crescendo and lively momentum.

Tu Es Petrus is a poetic tale about the three most important mysteries of the world: the MYSTERY OF CREATION, the MYSTERY OF THE CROSS and the MYSTERY OF LOVE.

Tu Es Petrus is also a poetic tale about the three greatest problems of the 21st century: HUNGER in the midst of WEALTH, WAR instead of PEACE and HATRED instead of harmony.

Tu Es Petrus is a poetic story about the SUCCESSOR OF PETER, John Paul II, who during his life and pontificate took on these challenging matters. It is a story about the Pope who followed the way of the Crucified One and humbly carried the cross of suffering, the cross of life, the cross of pain and the cross of faith.

Piotr Rubik is a Polish composer of music for orchestra, films and theatre. Born in 1968, Piotr comes from a family with a musical tradition. He learned to play the cello at the age of 7. He studied at the Frederic Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw and became a member of the world-class orchestra, Jeunesses Musicales.

Being a successful multi-instrumentalist, Rubik had a great passion for composing – something that absorbed him and gave a sense of fulfillment. He studied film music under the direction of Ennio Morricone in Siena, Italy.

Critics are divided in their opinions on the actual genre of Rubik’s work. Some claim that it is classical music, while others point out its popular characteristics with sacral elements. Unlike many composers considered classical, Rubik often gives interviews to popular media and records music videos to his compositions.

Rubik’s magnum opus to date is probably the work Tu es Petrus, which he dedicated to Pope John Paul II. His albums are some of the most purchased CDs in Poland. His CDs have received several platinum and diamond titles.

Piotr Rubik composed the Tu Es Petrus oratorio with lyrics by Zbigniew Książek as a tribute to Pope John Paul II on his birthday (May 18th), but the late Pontiff died on April 2nd before reaching his 85th year.

62 choir members, six soloists, 64 orchestra members - I want to go to this for sure!