januari 2025

More Than Just “Concerts”

By: Bénédicte Cedergren

One of the first concerts of the festival featured a powerful rendition of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem in D minor, performed by the Orchestra di Roma and the Illumniart Chorus, conducted by Tomomi Nishimoto at the Papal Basilica of St. John Lateran.

Composed in 1791, Requiem is one of Mozart’s – and the world’s – most famous and emotionally stirring works, celebrated worldwide for its profound depth and grandeur.

“Art Saves Art”

By: Bénédicte Cedergren

The Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra’s performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Mass in B minor at the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major was a remarkable celebration of Baroque mastery.

Composed in 1749, Bach’s Mass in B minor is renowned for its intricate choral and orchestral passages, blending profound spirituality with musical brilliance. It remains one of his most iconic works.

Sacred Music

Pope St. Pius X championed Gregorian chant, restoring its prominence and emphasizing that sacred music should embody holiness, beauty, and universality. His vision was later reaffirmed by Pope St. Paul VI in Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. Both Popes encouraged choirs, musicians, and the faithful to preserve and enrich the Church’s musical heritage.