Musical based on Dante includes Italian cleric's music

Jan. 2, 2007 (CWNews.com) - A prominent Italian cleric and liturgist has captured public attention in Rome by composing an eclectic musical score for a staging of Dante’s Divine Comedy.

Msgr. Marco Farina-- who directs both the liturgical center for the Rome vicariate and the choir of the Lateran basilica-- uses jazz, punk rock, and heavy-metal themes for the Inferno, Gregorian chant for the Purgatorio, and orchestral music with both classical and contemporary themes for the Paradiso.

The theatrical production of Dante’s work using Msgr. Farina’s music, entitled The Man Who Looks for Love, will be presented in Rome later this year. The musical, composed of two acts, will be produced under the patronage of the Vatican and the Italian parliament.