PUCCINI 100: Anniversary Concert

As we mark the centenary of Giacomo Puccini’s passing, tonight’s concert, presented in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute and held under the patronage of the Italian Embassy in Beirut, stands as a celebration of his profound musical legacy and a testament to his enduring influence on the world of classical music. Featuring the Notre Dame University Choir, tenor soloist Bechara Moufarrej, and the orchestra, conducted by Fr. Khalil Rahme, this special performance is the closing concert of the Beirut Chants Festival.

The first half of the program honors Puccini’s sacred works, offering a glimpse into the lesser-known yet equally powerful side of the maestro’s repertoire. Opening with “Motetto Per San Paolino”, an early and contemplative work, we are invited to experience Puccini’s sensitivity to sacred text and melody. This is followed by the “Gloria” from his youthful “Messa di Gloria”, a piece brimming with operatic grandeur and the lyrical richness that would later define his celebrated operas.

The second half transitions to the festive spirit of Christmas, uniting diverse traditions and showcasing the universality of sacred music. Through motets from the Lebanese Maronite tradition, the English tradition, and the Italian tradition, the program underscores the rich tapestry of cultural expressions that come together in the spirit of the season.

As we commemorate Puccini’s centennial, we also celebrate the harmony between cultures and the timeless beauty of sacred and choral music. May tonight’s concert inspire reflection, joy, and a deepened appreciation for the transformative power of music.

NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY CHOIR

With more than a dozen concerts per season, numerous recordings and publications, as well as many international awards, NDU Choir is one of Lebanon and the region’s outstanding choirs. A broad repertoire, a richly warm sound, an unmistakable interpretation all contribute to make it a permanent partner of the international festivals, and the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra and its conductors, where it functions as a musical ambassador for Beirut in the great concert halls around the world.

Established in 1993, the Notre Dame University Choir has been shaped by reverend Khalil Rahme o.m.m., who returned to Beirut after completing his music studies in Rome, to found the choir and the School of Music at Notre Dame University.
 
Along with the symphonic choral central repertoire, the annual season programing of the choir includes a wide range of Lebanese music, in close cooperation with celebrated composers, such as Iyad Kanaan, Gabriel Yared and Valentino Miserachs Grau, with the aim of developing and growing the Lebanese choral repertoire. Furthermore, Notre Dame University Choir is constantly developing new and unusual ways of experiencing choral music.

Fr. KHALIL RAHME

After completing his studies in philosophy, theology and music in Rome, Fr. Khalil Rahme returned to Beirut in 1993 to found the Notre Dame University Choir and School of Music, in addition to his entrusted tasks at the Lebanese National Conservatory of Music (choir director and music formation instructor).
 
As a renowned composer, his catalogue lists several motets, oratorios, and chamber and film music. Rahme is also founder and artistic director of the Lebanese Pipe Organ Week (SOL Festival), a yearly festival promoting pipe organ music. He is appointed Chaplain General of the Sovereign Order of Malta in Lebanon.