The Madeleine Festival of the Arts and Humanities: La Maddalena April 7, 2013

In 1685, the first performance of a new oratorio by the great Italian composer Alessandro Scarlatti occurred at the Rome Seminary. The subject was the biblical figure Mary Magdalene, patron saint of The Cathedral of the Madeleine and Salt Lake City. Cardinal Benedetto Pamphili wrote the libretto, which draws upon the legendary tradition of Mary Magdalene having rejected her youthful sinful life in favor of a devout faith. The cast consists of simply three characteristics: mary Magdalene, Youth and Penitence. Although Very popular in it's time, the work has received scant performances since the time of Scarlatti. In fact, it is believed that this performance may be the United states premiere of a work over three hundred years old. Unpublished, the musical score used for this performance was prepared from original sources by Douglas O'Neill, Organist and Assistant Director of Music at The Cathedral of The Madeleine.