The concert for organ with the participation of Giovanni Allevi completed the 14th edition of the International Festival of Sacred Music and Art, which took place from October 28 until November 4, 2015 in Rome and the Vatican.

In an official writing, the Founder and General President of the Foundation Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra, Sen. Dr. h.c. mult. Hans-Albert Courtial, described it as follows: "The Festival 2015 was an enormous success: More than 600 artists among them choristers and orchestra members, 14 soloists, 6 conductors and choirmasters and 2 organists from all over the world participated at this special musical event. The international character of our Festival was confirmed by the origin countries of those artists, altogether nine this year: Japan, Germany, Sweden, Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Austria, Vatican City and Italy."

The audience showed its appreciation for the fourteenth edition of the Festival and its program, which consisted in a selection of great masterpieces of symphonies, chorales, organ music, pieces that everyone knows mixed with surprising discoveries of modern composers. More than 11.000 listeners from Germany, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, the Principality of Liechtenstein, France, Japan, China, the U.S.A., Russia, Denmark, Israel, India, Spain, Italy and the Vatican State visited the numerous concerts in the extraordinary and beautiful framework of three Papal Basilicas in Rome, Saint Peter's, Saint Paul's outside the Walls and Basilica of St. Mary Major' as also in the Basilica of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Of course, the concert with the Wiener Philharmoniker, orchestra 'in residence' of the Festival since its first edition, was the most awaited one. More than 3000 persons met in the Basilica of Saint Paul's outside the Walls to listen to the Symphony No 7 and the Symphony No 8 of Ludwig van Beethoven, directed by the swedish conductor Herbert Blomstedt, one of the greatest conductors of our times, in one of his rare appearances in Italy. A concert organized in honor and in the presence of Their Serene Highnesses Prince Hans-Adam II and Princess Marie von und zu Liechtenstein.

Beyond the possibility to listen, the Festival wants to offer a real spiritual elevation in order to promote the ecumenical spirit, occurred this year by the participation of the St. Jacob's Chamber Choir of Stockholm. In addition, for the third time in our Festival's history, the IlluminArt Chorus and Orchestra from Japan have been part of our program. The participation of the choristers and orchestra members, being part of different kinds of creeds, that are characteristic for the religious reality of the state of Nippon, could make its contribution to the interreligious dialogue between Christians and many other religions that co-exist in Japan.

Sen. Dr. h.c. mult. Hans-Albert Courtial announces the next year's XV Festival edition 2016 with the following words: "It is known, that sacred music with its transcendental character has the potential to cause a very strong spiritual experience, stronger than words or images: For that reason, religious faith is very strong connected to the music and religious rites have been accompanied by music from time immemorial. For me it is always a great pleasure and gratification to contribute to bring people to these holy places in the framework of the INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF SACRED MUSIC AND SACRED ART. So I hope to see you next year, in October- November 2016"

14th International Festival of Sacred Music and Art
Rome and Vatican, October 28th - November 4th, 2015
with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra as Orchestra "in residence"

Pro Musica e Arte Sacra dedicates the Festival 2015
to the memory of Saint John Paul II on the 10th anniversary of His death

Wednesday 28th October 2015
Papal Basilica St Peter in the Vatican

4 pm - Spiritual Elevation
Charles Gounod, Messe solennelle de Sainte-Cécile
IlluminArt Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra (Japan)
Roma Sinfonietta Orchestra (Italy)
Tomomi Nishimoto, Conductor

5 pm - Holy Mass celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Comastri
Hans Berger, Pater-Rupert-Mayer-Messe
Choir and Ensemble Hans Berger (Germany)
Hans Berger, Conductor

Orasho
IlluminArt Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra (Japan)
Tomomi Nishimoto, Conductor

Thursday 29th October 2015, 9 pm
Papal Basilica St Paul outside the Walls
Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 8
Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 7
Wiener Philharmoniker (Austria)
Prof. Herbert Blomstedt, Conductor

Friday 30th October 2015, 12 noon
Basilica di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola in Campo Marzio
Concert in honour of "Patrona Bavaria"
Montini-Chor ed Ensemble Hans Berger (Germany)
Hans Berger, Conductor

Friday 30th October 2015, 9 pm
Papal Basilica St Paul outside the Walls
Giuseppe Verdi, Messa da Requiem
IlluminArt Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra (Japan)
Roma Sinfonietta Orchestra (Italy)
Tomomi Nishimoto, Conductor

Saturday 31st October 2015, 12 noon
Basilica di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola in Campo Marzio
Giovanni Bonato, Credo
Alfred Schnittke, Concert for Choir
Michael Waldenby, from Liber Ecclesiastes (2008, opus 49) Improvisation "Den blomstertid nu kommer"
St. Jacob's Chamber Choir (Sweden)
Gary Graden, Conductor

Saturday 31st October 2015, 9 pm
Papal Basilica St Paul outside the Walls
Arvo Pärt, Fratres
Ksenia Dubrovskaya, Violin
Gustav Mahler, Symphony No. 2 in C minor ('Resurrection')
Orchestra and Chorus of Philharmonia of the Nations
Maria Arija, sopran (Russia)
Angelina Shvachka, mezzo sopran (Ukraine)
Prof. Justus Frantz, Conductor

Sunday 1st November 2015, 9 pm
Papal Basilica St. Mary Major
Coro della Cappella Musicale Pontificia "Sistina" (Città del Vaticano)
Massimo Palombella, Direttore
St. Jacob's Chamber Choir (Svezia)
Gray Graden, Direttore

Wednesday 4th November 2015, 9 pm
Basilica St Ignatius Loyola in Campo Marzio
Giovanni Allevi, Toccata, Canzone e Fuga in Re Maggiore
Carlo Maria Barile, Organ
Johann Sebastian Bach, 4 Kontrapunkte aus der "Kunst der Fuge"
Johann Sebastian Bach, Choral "Vor deinen Thron tret ich hiermit"
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Orgelsonate VI "Vater unser im Himmelreich"
Leo Kraemer, Improvisation über Themen aus F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdys "Sommernachtstraum"
Leo Kraemer, Organ