9th Festival Internazionale di Musica e Arte Sacra
with the Vienna Philharmonic

October 23 - 26, 2010

dedicated to

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

in the Fifth Year of His Pontificate

Saturday, 23^rd October 2010 - 17:00

Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican

Solemn Holy Mass

celebrated by His Em. Angelo Cardinal Comastri

Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica and Vicar General of His Holiness for the Vatican

Gregorian Chant

The Cathedral of St. Patrick Choir, New York (USA)

Jennifer Pascual, Director

with the unique participation of

Mainz Cathedral Wind Ensemble "Mainzer Dombläser"

Chamber Choir Cantate Belcanto

performing Russian sacred music

Sunday, 24^th October 2010 - 17:00

Basilica of Saint Ignatius

The Cathedral of St. Patrick Choir, New York (USA)

Jennifer Pascual, Director

Sunday, 24^th October 2010 - 21:00

Papal Basilica of Saint John Lateran (apse)

Solemn Music from Four Centuries

Mainz Cathedral Wind Ensemble "Mainzer Dombläser"

Organist of the Mainz Cathedral Albert Schönberger

Mathias Breitschaft, director

Monday, 25^th October 2010 - 11:00

location to be defined

"Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra" Award Cerimony

Monday, 25^th October 2010 - 21:00

Papal Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Walls

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Symphony in B minor K 319

Henri Tomasi, Concert for trombone and orchestra

Joseph Haydn, "Surprise Symphony" in G major Hob.I:94

 Wiener Philharmoniker

Andris Nelsons, director

Tuesday, 26^th October 2010 - 21:00

Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Ouverture from Paulus

Charles Gounod, Saint Cecilia Mass

Johannes Brahms, Symphony no. 1 in  C minor

Bach-Chor Siegen

Philharmonie Südwestfalen - Landesorchester Nordrhein-Westfalen

Regina Klepper, Soprano
Michael Suttner, Tenor
Michael Dries, Bass  
Simon Gaudenz, director

Wednesday, 27^th October 2010

Aula Paolo VI in the Vatican or St. Peter's Square

Participation in the weekly General Audience of Pope Benedict XVI

The organizer shall reserve the right to change the programme.

The Foundation's 2010 Restoration Projects regard support of the Fabric of St. Peter's in the restoration of the southern facade of St. Peter's Basilica (third lot) and of the Mausoleum PHI in the Vatican Necropolis underneath St. Peter's.  

The front facade of St. Peter's, a well-known aspect all over the world, has been restored in occasion of the Holy Year 2000. Since then the Fabric of St. Peter's has promoted restoration of the southern facade of the Vatican Basilica with a surface of almost 11.500 square meters, more than twice the main facade. The restoration is urgent because breaks and water infiltrations cause the risk of elements breaking down or of damages in the Basilica's interior. The third lot of the restoration works, on which the Foundation's efforts are focused, regards the part of the Basilica which has been planned in the form of a Greek cross by Michelangelo in the 16^th century, while the first lot (concluded) and the second lot (in work) regard the part that has been added by Maderno in the 17^th century. The third lot is the most interesting part also due to the fact that it contains an entrance into the Basilica called "Porta della Preghiera", through which the Pope, Heads of States and the Diplomatic Corps enter the Basilica for celebrations.

After supporting the complete restoration of the Mausoleum "dei Valeri" in the Vatican Necropolis under St. Peter's in the past years, the Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra is now sensitizing  sponsors and supporters to the restoration of the Mausoleum PHI, also called "of the Marci family", one of the most important and prestigious funeral edifices of the Vatican Necropolis because of its frescoes. This tomb is gravely deteriorated and one of those which need the most urgent attention and where restoration works cannot be delayed because otherwise the marvellous frescoed decoration will be lost forever.