Burbank, CA (April 9, 2019)
Debney Productions and Costa Communications, in cooperation with Icon Productions, have announced the DVD/On-demand release of The Passion Oratorio: A Live Concert Event. The concert was filmed before an audience of over 6000 people at the world-renowned Mosque-Cathedral in Cordoba, Spain. It was the first orchestral concert performed in the mosque in over 40 years.

The Passion Oratorio features the original concert work by The Passion of the Christ Oscar-nominated composer John Debney, the film’s lyricist/vocalist/soloist Lisbeth Scott, the film’s worldwind flute soloist Pedro Eustache, the Ziryab Choir, and the Cordoba Orchestra under the direction of Kevin Kaska. Other solo performers included tenor Juan Luque and soprano Maria Alonso. The Passion Oratorio will be available April 15 on-demand on iTunes, Amazon and Vudu, and Amazon. The release coincides with the 15th anniversary of The Passion of the Christ movie release.

“I was so honored to have The Passion Oratorio performed in the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba where people of all faiths visit the mosque that was constructed over 1000 years ago,” explains Debney.

Director Mel Gibson praised the composer’s concert work. “John Debney’s musical score for The Passion of the Christ enhanced the film’s images to an otherworldly realm,” said Gibson. “In his Oratorio, John has gone a step further and expanded his inspiration to a work that transcends its orchestrations to speak straight to the heart and soul, like a prayer.”

John Debney has conducted several performances of The Passion Oratorio throughout the world, including the first concert in Rome, Italy. Following the performance, Archbishop Foley of the Vatican, who was in attendance, blessed Debney and the work. “As a composer, it was an experience that comes along once in a lifetime to be associated with a film that touched so many people’s lives,” said Debney. To date, The Passion of the Christ movie has made over $611 million worldwide.

The Passion of the Christ movie score was nominated for an Oscar, and became a gold-selling album in 2004. The score was also honored with a Dove Award for Instrumental Album of the Year at the 36th Annual Gospel Music Awards. The Passion of the Christ score was composed by John Debney and produced by John Debney & Mel Gibson.

View the trailer here:

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