Music for the Spirit
Story: Simon Stuchlik | Photo: Liz Palmer
It was a performance worthy of the elegance and grandeur with which the late Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B., P’63, C’68, S’72, D’95, guided Saint Vincent College and Archabbey for nearly 30 years. Dedicated to his memory, the world-renowned Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Grammy Award-winning organist Paul Jacobs visited the Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica on April 30 for an unforgettable concert experience.
Under the theme of “Music for the Spirit,” Maestro Manfred Honeck, D’10, directed performances of Samy Moussa’s “Elysium,” Franz Schubert’s “Litanei auf das Fest Aller Seelen,” James MacMillan’s “Larghetto for Orchestra,” and Franz Schmidt’s “Intermezzo” from Notre Dame. Benedictine monks from the Saint Vincent Schola performed two traditional chants while organ virtuoso Paul Jacobs wowed audiences with a selection of pieces from Félix Alexandre Guilmant and an encore from Johann Sebastian Bach.
“Music has the extraordinary ability to uplift the spirit, bring communities together, and honor those who have left a profound impact on our lives,” said Maestro Honeck. “It is a privilege for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to return to Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica, a place of deep reflection and tradition. This program is not only a celebration of profound and transcendent music, but also a tribute to the life and legacy of Archabbot Douglas, whose vision and leadership shaped his community in remarkable ways.”
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has made Saint Vincent a frequent stop on its global tours in recent years. In December 2023, Maestro Honeck conducted a performance of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah.” In 2022, Honeck directed the Symphony for a performance of Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9,” and in 2019, the Symphony performed Anton Bruckner’s “Symphony No. 9” and Bruckner’s “Te Deum” at Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica.