U.S. concerts set for Vatican choir

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican’s Sistine Chapel Choir is embarking on its first U.S. tour in 30 years in September, hoping to show audiences in New York, Washington and Detroit that it has abandoned the habits that earned it a reputation as the “Sistine Screamers.”

The Pontifical Musical Chapel Sistina, colloquially known as the “Pope’s Choir,” bills itself as the world’s oldest choir, part of the tradition of liturgical choirs that have sung for pontiffs since the first centuries of the Roman Catholic Church.

Today, the group of 20 adults and 30 boys performs regularly in the Sistine Chapel below Michelangelo’s masterpieces, at Masses the pope celebrates in St. Peter’s Basilica and for international concert appearances.

Hearing the singers today, it’s hard to imagine that they earned the nickname the “Sistine Screamers” a few years back for their habit of belting out their numbers operatically, relying on volume instead of technique.

“Truly, they were singing in a manner that had no relation to the old music,” choir master Monsignor Massimo Palombella said.

To return the choir to its early glory in the 16th century, when the group attracted the best singers in Europe, Palombella did extensive research. He sifted through the Vatican archives, studying music manuscripts and analyzing the handwriting of Renaissance composers.

These days, the choir once again is drawing talent. Its current members include singers from Poland, Britain, Brazil and Argentina.