Mary Rodrigues was invited to perform solo at Pope Francis’ surprise birthday
Even those who are not Catholics recognize the importance of the figure of Pope francesco, the principal head of the Church. Now imagine having the opportunity, as a faithful, to show your talent to the pontiff.
the violinist Mary RodriguezAged 35, he went through a selection process and was chosen to perform as a soloist at Pope Francis’ surprise birthday, which took place on December 18.
On the occasion, Mary presented the song heal the worldby Michael Jackson. TO Landthe violinist told how the preparation went.
“It was a month of prep and rehearsal,” she says. “The first part of preparation is studying the music and understanding what it says, its history and context,” she adds.
Born in Lorraine, in the hinterland of São Paulo, and raised in the city of Americana, music definitely entered her life at the age of 11, when she started taking lessons, encouraged by her family.
The performance for Pope Francis was not his first contact with the pontiff. Though far away, Maria was a volunteer at World Youth Day, which marked the Pope’s visit to Brazil in 2013.
In 2016 he moved to Rome to study music. “When I arrived in Rome, all my luggage consisted of two 32-kilo suitcases plus the violin, made by a luthier from Porto Feliz, Carlos Ribeiro. Even though I imagined the difficulty of adapting, I knew this was an opportunity to deepen my knowledge of the violin, as classical music was born in Europe, and the first object I committed to carrying was my beloved instrument” , bill.
For her, playing in church is praying twice. “Playing in church is completely a form of prayer for me. It’s always a very important moment, and this was even more evident when I started playing here in the Vatican with the orchestra”, says Mary, who became the only Brazilian to be invited to play with the Diocese of Rome in concerts of Christmas and Easter. .
To present herself to the Pope, Maria was approved in a long two-month selection process that evaluated not only the technical knowledge, but also the Christian experience of the candidates.
The presentation came as a surprise to Francisco. Maria played without an orchestra and accompanied by the children of the Santa Marta charity project, linked to the popes since Pius XI, one hundred years ago.
The moment had a great impact on the violinist’s life, which projects the future. “I have many projects and I am preparing big news, on the national and international scene, as well as directing my path towards my dream, which is to collaborate with artists I admire. But I can assure you that we will soon have news”.
“I am very happy with all the repercussions and fulfilled with the path that I am building, based on what I really believe in. I will not give up!”, he concludes.
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Source: Terra
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
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