Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
(12 Mar 2010)
STORYLINE:
SHOTLIST
London, November 25th 2009
10 mins approx
1. Sit down interview with Stefano Mainetti including the following sound bites:
''''Actually there is a lot of stuff that makes this album unique. First of all, featuring the Pope. Pope Benedict XVI, and actually he sings on this album, and speech and also we have a Gregorian choir, a fantastic orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. And also we composed original music just to put together all these elements. These elements that are talking about the Alma Mater. Alma Mater is the title and it means the great mater - the Virgin Mary - the one who gives the life.''''
2. Sit down interview with Simon Boswell including the following sound bites:
''''There were certain elements that were given to us and there was a theological concept to the album, which dictated which of bits of the Pope''s speeches and of him singing that were used. Also chosen by the Vatican were certain Litanies and Gregorian bits of music. But we began the process, which is the most interesting aspect in a way, by recording the Gregorian choir in St Peter''s Basilica at night, after it was closed to the public, which is a fantastic experience because it''s a huge space, and quite a humbling place to be. And surrounded by all of Michaelangelo''s art and all kinds of art from all over the centuries. ''''
''''I''ve told this story before; there was one moment in St Peter''s and we were there, you must remember at night, when it was empty, when I wandered off and looked at Michaelangelo''s statue of La Pieta, which is in Catholic iconography, it''s the Virgin Mary cradling, the crucified Jesus on her lap, amazing statue, I really saw it as a mother holding her dead child and it actually moved me to tears, it was one of these moments that was so over-powering. And I saw it in those humane emotional terms, and took that inspiration back with me and that really helped me to write some, I think, very spiritually uplifting music for this album.''''
''''We were given an awful lot of freedom musically with this, the Vatican obviously provided us with a theological overview of what this was. But they left us absolutely alone to write what music we wanted. I think what we have succeeded in doing is providing a filmic atmosphere to it because we are film composers and giving it something a little more exciting, a little more tension in it almost, than kind of dry religious music. It has something cinematic about it. ''''
''''It seems like quite a fresh thing to have out right now for Christmas. This is original music played by everyone who plays their own instruments and the orchestra, it''s all very organic. A lot of what seems to be out there is very Simon Cowell style karaoke. We write music, we have to do it everyday in our day job as film composers, so encouraged by the response to it so far. I''m tempted to say get rid of the X Factor and this is cross factor for you.''''
3. Sit down interview with Vincent Messina including the following sound bites:
''''One of the most exciting sides of my life, the last 12 years because in a way they relate to me as the man who made 2 Popes sing. And since it''s such a difficult thing. If I think about it myself, it''s just unthinkable they accepted to make albums, like the 3 that I made so far, because there is also a musical DVD called ''Santo Subito!'' that Simon Boswell did together with me 2 years ago.''''
FURTHER RESTRICTIONS: None
USED FOR STORIES # : 630529
TAPE FORMAT: DVCAM
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(12 Mar 2010)
STORYLINE:
SHOTLIST
London, November 25th 2009
10 mins approx
1. Sit down interview with Stefano Mainetti including the following sound bites:
''''Actually there is a lot of stuff that makes this album unique. First of all, featuring the Pope. Pope Benedict XVI, and actually he sings on this album, and speech and also we have a Gregorian choir, a fantastic orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. And also we composed original music just to put together all these elements. These elements that are talking about the Alma Mater. Alma Mater is the title and it means the great mater - the Virgin Mary - the one who gives the life.''''
2. Sit down interview with Simon Boswell including the following sound bites:
''''There were certain elements that were given to us and there was a theological concept to the album, which dictated which of bits of the Pope''s speeches and of him singing that were used. Also chosen by the Vatican were certain Litanies and Gregorian bits of music. But we began the process, which is the most interesting aspect in a way, by recording the Gregorian choir in St Peter''s Basilica at night, after it was closed to the public, which is a fantastic experience because it''s a huge space, and quite a humbling place to be. And surrounded by all of Michaelangelo''s art and all kinds of art from all over the centuries. ''''
''''I''ve told this story before; there was one moment in St Peter''s and we were there, you must remember at night, when it was empty, when I wandered off and looked at Michaelangelo''s statue of La Pieta, which is in Catholic iconography, it''s the Virgin Mary cradling, the crucified Jesus on her lap, amazing statue, I really saw it as a mother holding her dead child and it actually moved me to tears, it was one of these moments that was so over-powering. And I saw it in those humane emotional terms, and took that inspiration back with me and that really helped me to write some, I think, very spiritually uplifting music for this album.''''
''''We were given an awful lot of freedom musically with this, the Vatican obviously provided us with a theological overview of what this was. But they left us absolutely alone to write what music we wanted. I think what we have succeeded in doing is providing a filmic atmosphere to it because we are film composers and giving it something a little more exciting, a little more tension in it almost, than kind of dry religious music. It has something cinematic about it. ''''
''''It seems like quite a fresh thing to have out right now for Christmas. This is original music played by everyone who plays their own instruments and the orchestra, it''s all very organic. A lot of what seems to be out there is very Simon Cowell style karaoke. We write music, we have to do it everyday in our day job as film composers, so encouraged by the response to it so far. I''m tempted to say get rid of the X Factor and this is cross factor for you.''''
3. Sit down interview with Vincent Messina including the following sound bites:
''''One of the most exciting sides of my life, the last 12 years because in a way they relate to me as the man who made 2 Popes sing. And since it''s such a difficult thing. If I think about it myself, it''s just unthinkable they accepted to make albums, like the 3 that I made so far, because there is also a musical DVD called ''Santo Subito!'' that Simon Boswell did together with me 2 years ago.''''
FURTHER RESTRICTIONS: None
USED FOR STORIES # : 630529
TAPE FORMAT: DVCAM
Find out more about AP Archive: aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: instagram.com/APNews
You can license this story through AP Archive: aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/1cd7b3aa11bca5abf11ad0e2a6cc062e
