BREAKING: Sistine Chapel Choir to return to U.S. in July, including Detroit encore

Author: Kresta in the Afternoon Published on: March 27, 2018 Published in: Arts & Beauty

DETROIT — When the Sistine Chapel Choir’s angelic voices graced Detroit in September 2017, their performance was billed as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity for the Motor City.

Not so fast.

The Cappella Musicale Pontificia Sistina, as Pope Francis’ personal chorus is officially known, was so impressed during its first U.S. visit in 30 years that it’s decided to return for an encore.

The choir announced March 27 it is returning to the United States for an eight-city tour in July, including a performance July 11 at the Detroit Opera House. The choir will also perform in Atlanta, New York City, St. Louis, Miami, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles.

“The Sistine Chapel Choir is delighted and honored to embark on our historic first U.S. national tour,” said Maestro Msgr. Massimo Palombella, who leads the Sistine Chapel Choir. “We are excited to experience the many great cities we will visit and look forward to sharing our cutting-edge research and study of Renaissance music, directly from the archives of the Sistine Chapel, preserved in the Vatican Library, to audiences across America.”

During its 2017 visit, which was coordinated by Northville-based pilgrimage company Corporate Travel, the choir stopped only in New York, Washington, D.C., and Detroit. This summer’s tour is being coordinated through a partnership of Concerts West/AEG Presents, Brokaw Co. and TEI, though Corporate Travel will again sponsor the choir’s Detroit performance.

So far, only one performance has been announced for the Motor City; in September, the choir also visited Ste. Anne de Detroit Parish and the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.