The 15th edition of the Festival di Pasqua takes place from 31 March to 8 April, and this year its sacred music programme is dedicated to Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi.
Founded in 1998 by director Enrico Castiglione, this year the festival presents concerts of sacred music from Gregorian chant to Baroque, in churches around Rome and the Vatican. Entry to all festival events is free but subject to availability.
31 March. The Basilica of S. Lorenzo in Lucina hosts Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle by the Schola Cantorum of the Università Popolare di Roma Upter, directed by Giovanni Gava, with Ji Min Kim Korean soprano, mezzo-soprano Sonia Lee, Carlo Savarese tenor and bass Giuliano Casali. (20.30)
1 April. The traditional Palm Sunday concert is The Art of Fugue by Bach, with Marco Silvi, at the Basilica dei S. XII Apostoli. (20.30)
2 April. The Church of S. Andrea della Valle, the Excelsium musicae concert, featuring Vivaldi’s sacred music, performed on original instruments from the time by the Orchestra Collegium Musicum, directed by maestro Marco Silvi, with Korean soprano Yasho Fujii. (20.30)
3 April. The Church of Gesù hosts Mozart's Requiem featuring Chiara Taigi soprano, and Anna Malavasi mezzo-soprano, accompanied by the Choir and the Orchestra Sinfonica del Festival di Pasqua, and the Orchestra Benedetto Marcello Orchestra conducted by Antonella De Angelis. (20.00)
4 April. Vivaldi’s music comes to life at the Basilica of St Paul’s within the Walls will host soprano Susanne Bungaard and cellist Matteo Scarpelli, accompanied by the Rome Baroque Ensemble, conducted by Lorenzo Tozzi. (21.00)
5, 6, 7 April. The Schola Cantorum performs the Mottetti Sacri by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, at the Basilica of S. Sabina on the Aventine hill. (Thurs, Fri 18.00, Sat 22.30)
8 April. The festival closes with the traditional Easter concert at the Basilica dei S. XII Apostoli with a concert titled "In Excelsis Deo", dedicated entirely to Vivaldi, and performed by the Rome Baroque Orchestra with Mario Bassani countertenor. (20.00)
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