During the week of 19-23 April 2005, Fr. Renato Beretta, a Franciscan friar from Milan, returned to the Holy Land. Together with the “Cantica” choir, the solists Giovanna Donadini, Raffaella Vianello, Andrea Giovannini and Antonio Marani, the pianists Anna Brandolini and Mauro Bertoli, and Maestro Marco Berrini who played the organ, the choir sang the Petite Messe Solennelle by Gioacchino Rossini.

This tournée by Fr. Beretta was organized under the patronage of the Italian Institute of Culture and the Holy Land Custody, and coordinated by Fr. Quirico Calella. The choir sang at Tel Aviv – Jaffa (Franciscan church of Saint Peter), Acco (Auditorium), Nazareth (Basilica of the Annunciation), Bethlehem (Church of Saint Catherine) and Jerusalem (Church ofSaint Saviour).

Various religious and civil authorities, together with a numerous participation of the public, could appreciate the highly professional singing and music which Rossini composed four years before his death, in honour of the guests in Paris.

With his typical shyness and humorous wit Rossini called this Mass “Piccola”. The composition anticipated the sounds and rhythms which characterized the first years of the twentieth century. At the same time it expresses a full sense of religiosity
acceptance of the Catholic faith. At the end of his life, in fact, only religious themes could help Rossini to continue producing music from his creative sources.

The final concert in Jerusalem was dedicated to His Holiness Benedict XVI. At the end the choir rewarded the audience with a bis by singing the “Preghiera” from Mossè. The Custos, Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, thanking the artists in public, noted a joyful coincidence: that night was the night of the Jewish Passover, when the Jewish people commemorate the crossing of the Red Sea.

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