Elevazione spirituale

He graduated in Composition from the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia and obtained a licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute. Ordained a priest in 1982, he has since carried out his ministry in the Diocese of Rome. He currently serves as a Consultant to the Dicastery for Evangelization and as Spiritual Assistant to the Pontifical Academy of the Virtuosi al Pantheon. A composer of liturgical music widely known and appreciated in Italy and abroad - and frequently translated into several languages - he founded the Choir of the Diocese of Rome in 1984, leading it in the most important liturgical celebrations, some of them presided over by the Holy Father. In 1991 he began collaborating on the international RAI project Bibbia, both as a biblical consultant and as the composer of the soundtracks for the films produced. He has also written the scores for more than thirty films on historical and religious themes. His musical output includes around forty Sacred Oratorios and theatrical works, among which stand out La Divina Commedia - the world’s first musical adaptation of Dante’s masterpiece, performed continuously since 2007 in theatres throughout Italy - In hoc Signo, staged in Belgrade in 2013; Passio Caeciliae, performed in 2013 in both Rome and New York; and Passio Christi, which premiered in Málaga in April 2018. He coordinated the Jubilee of Choirs in 2016 and the International Gathering of Choirs in the Vatican, an event that brings together thousands of choristers from all over the world and took place in 2014, 2018, and 2024 to mark the fortieth anniversary of the Choir of the Diocese of Rome. Since 2015, he has served as Artistic Director of the Concerto con i Poveri, an event that has seen him share the podium with Maestros Daniel Oren and Speranza Scappucci and with composers Ennio Morricone and Nicola Piovani, conducting internationally acclaimed orchestras and choirs. His first book-length interview, Mio canto è il Signore, was published in 2018, followed in 2019 by La santità è il volto più bello della Chiesa, written in collaboration with Cardinal Angelo De Donatis. In 2022 he composed the Mass for the Holy Year of St. James in Santiago de Compostela, performed in the presence of the King of Spain. In 2023 he composed and conducted La Messa per i 1.700 anni della Basilica Lateranense at the Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. In 2025 he took part in Grace for the World, a major concert in St. Peter’s Square featuring world-renowned artists such as Andrea Bocelli and John Legend, conducting the Choir of the Diocese of Rome in three pieces, including the Magnificat performed by Il Volo.

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The Nova Opera Orchestra brings together some of the finest musicians from Italy and across Europe. Founded with the purpose of engaging performers and conductors in musical and artistic experiences of international caliber, it embraces a repertoire ranging from classical and operatic music to iconic film scores. The orchestra has appeared at major cultural and philanthropic events in Italy and abroad, cultivating prestigious collaborations with renowned artists and performers. It also serves as the resident ensemble for “Concerto con i poveri”, held in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican, an annual gathering where music and fraternity come together in support of those most in need.  In 2025, the Nova Opera Orchestra also took part in Grace for the World, a historic concert in St. Peter’s Square. Co-directed by Pharrell Williams and Andrea Bocelli, the event featured international stars such as Bocelli, Pharrell Williams, John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, Karol G, the Voices of Fire choir, the Choir of the Diocese of Rome led by Marco Frisina, and several other international ensembles. Produced by Disney+ in collaboration with Hulu and ABC News Live, the show blended an array of musical styles, from pop to gospel, from sacred music to soul, into an evening that united art, faith, and a message of universal fraternity.

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Founded in 1984 by Mons. Marco Frisina with the mission of supporting diocesan liturgies, the Choir of the Diocese of Rome has since accompanied countless events in service to the Diocese and to its Bishop, the Pope. Among the many musical, cultural, and concert events in which the Choir has taken a leading role are the presentations of Rai’s Progetto Bibbia films, its participation in the 56th Festival dei Due Mondi, and the Perosi Festival 2022. Over the years, it has recorded numerous albums and soundtracks and is frequently invited to perform concerts in dioceses across Italy as well as abroad, in countries such as France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Turkey, and the United States. In 2014, the Choir celebrated its thirtieth anniversary by promoting the first International Gathering of Choirs in the Vatican. During the Jubilee Year of Mercy, it organized the first Jubilee of Choirs and, in 2024, the fourth International Gathering of Choirs in the Vatican, events that brought together more than 8,000 singers in the Paul VI Audience Hall. The Choir is a regular participant in the Concert with the Poor in the Vatican and, in 2024, marked its 40th anniversary. In 2025, it took part in the international concert Grace for the World in St. Peter’s Square, performing under the direction of Mons. Marco Frisina. The event, broadcast worldwide, featured artists of global renown, including Andrea Bocelli, John Legend, and Il Volo, who performed the Magnificat accompanied by the Choir.

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