Over the next five months, the community will be blessed by the monthly Cathedral Concert Series, featuring live classical music made available at no charge to attendees by the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Tucson.
“The concert series has proven to be a significant asset to the community,” said artistic director Carlos Zapién. “Besides having internationally renowned performers, the concert series fosters local talent by providing a platform for musicians and artists to showcase their work, while also attracting visitors and enhancing community engagement. The concert series promotes social cohesion, bringing together diverse groups, and encouraging dialogue among attendees.”
From October to February, concerts at the various venues of Cathedral Square in downtown Tucson offer attendees, Catholic or otherwise, the opportunity to engage with the classical arts in a beautiful setting. The series includes a diverse collection ranging from mariachi to love songs, classical guitar and piano.
“Art holds vital importance in society,” said Zapién. “Art serves as a means of expression, allowing individuals to convey emotions and ideas that may be difficult to articulate through conventional communication. Art challenges perceptions, provokes thought, and can be a powerful vehicle for social change.”
In St. John Paul the Great’s Letter to Artists, the pontiff said, “Society needs artists, just as it needs scientists, technicians, workers, professional people, witnesses of the faith, teachers, fathers and mothers, who ensure the growth of the person and the development of the community by means of that supreme art form which is ‘the art of education’. Within the vast cultural panorama of each nation, artists have their unique place. Obedient to their inspiration in creating works both worthwhile and beautiful, they not only enrich the cultural heritage of each nation and of all humanity, but they also render an exceptional social service in favor of the common good.”
Throughout history, the Catholic Church has been a champion of the arts. “The Catholic Church recognizes the transformative power of art in conveying spiritual truths and enhancing worship,” said Zapién. “Through architecture, music, and visual arts, the Church seeks to elevate the human spirit. This commitment to the arts reflects the Church's understanding of beauty as a pathway to experiencing and understanding faith.”
“Every genuine artistic intuition goes beyond what the senses perceive and, reaching beneath reality's surface, strives to interpret its hidden mystery. The intuition itself springs from the depths of the human soul, where the desire to give meaning to one's own life is joined by the fleeting vision of beauty and of the mysterious unity of things. All artists experience the unbridgeable gap which lies between the work of their hands, however successful it may be, and the dazzling perfection of the beauty glimpsed in the ardor of the creative moment: what they manage to express in their painting, their sculpting, their creating is no more than a glimmer of the splendor which flared for a moment before the eyes of their spirit. Believers find nothing strange in this: they know that they have had a momentary glimpse of the abyss of light which has its original wellspring in God.”
-St. John Paul the Great, Letter to Artists
The Cathedral Concert Series is one way that the local Catholic Church engages with the transcendence of beauty. Past years were extremely successful and “overwhelmingly positive,” said Zapién. “Many attendees expressed appreciation for the opportunity to enjoy live performances, which enrich their cultural experiences. These free concerts have not only entertained but also inspired a sense of pride in local artistry.”
The community is encouraged to enjoy this season’s classical music by reserving seats in advance at tucsoncathedralconcerts.org. We look forward to seeing you at this year’s outstanding collection of concerts:
October 22, 2024 ~ Mariachi Extravaganza
Come join us for a lively evening filled with the vibrant sounds of mariachi music at the Msgr. Carillo Placita, located next to St. Augustine Cathedral! This event promises to be a fiesta like no other!
November 19, 2024 ~ Ana Maria Iordache, guitar
Born in Bucharest, Ana Maria Iordache is one of the most outstanding Romanian classical guitarists of her generation. Enjoy some of the most renown classical guitar works in the transportive setting of Our Lady’s Chapel.
December 17, 2024 ~ Christmas at the Cathedral
Join us for a beautiful evening concert of traditional choral Christmas music featuring the Tucson Boys Chorus. Enjoy classic sing-alongs and solo works in the beautiful St. Augustine Cathedral.
January 21, 2025 ~ The Beauty of Love
Join tenor Carlos Zapién for an enchanting evening filled with beautiful Italian songs and cherished Latin American classics, in the intimate setting of Our Lady’s Chapel illuminated by soft candlelight.
February 11, 2025 ~ William Wolfram, piano
American pianist William Wolfram has appeared with many of the greatest orchestras of the world and has developed a special reputation as the rare concerto soloist who is also equally versatile and adept as a recitalist, accompanist, and chamber musician.