Once again this year, on the occasion of the celebrations for the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven, patron saint of our Cathedral, the initiative ‘Firmamento Musicale’ (Musical Firmament) is being promoted by the Chapter of Como Cathedral.
The Firmamento will take place from 6 to 14 August: sounds, words and music will echo not only under the illuminated vaults of the Cathedral but also in the ancient Basilica of St. Carpoforo and in the church of St. Cassiano in Breccia.
With the exception of the evening of 8 August, when the Celtic Harp Orchestra (conducted by F. Constable) will perform in the Cathedral, the remaining events will be dedicated to organ music, performed on the monumental “Balbiani-Vegezzi-Bossi” instruments (Op. 1519-1932), consisting of five organ bodies with 6515 pipes.
There will not only be concerts in the Cathedral, because the organ is primarily an instrument for accompanying the praise of God in liturgical prayers. On 12 August at 6.30 p.m., Holy Mass will be celebrated in suffrage of the deceased Chapel Masters, organists and singers, followed by “open” rehearsals of the Musical Chapel (conducted by Don Nicholas Negrini) in preparation for the solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven. The culminating moment will be the liturgy, with the prayer of First Vespers on the final evening of the Firmament, where the journey will be oriented, in prayer, towards the Virgin whose head is crowned with stars.
The events outside the Cathedral will take place on 9 August at the Basilica of St. Carpoforo, on an evening when, amid “dreams and visions”, the chamber music of M. E. Bossi will be performed by soloists from the Brescia Chamber Orchestra (in collaboration with the Marco Enrico Bossi Festival and the Voci e suoni nel silenzio festival).
Also in the Church of Breccia on 13 August, after Holy Mass on the occasion of the patron saint’s feast day, there will be a concert by the duo Antonello Molteni and Luigi Ricco (violin and organ) focusing on the centenary of Bossi’s death, on his music and on transcriptions by other composers.
Several performers will take turns at the cathedral organ console: in addition to the titular organist Lorenzo Pestuggia, there will be Frantisek Vanicek from the Czech Republic and Maurice Clerc from France (in collaboration with the Percorsi d’organo in provincia di Como festival).
A kaleidoscope of musical timbres and colours that reveal the unique and pacifying beauty of music, created for the glory of God and the sanctification of man.
PROGRAMME
Wednesday 06/08 21.00
Cathedral Basilica
Lorenzo Pestuggia – Organ
Thursday 07/08 21.00
Cathedral Basilica
Frantisek Vanicek – Organ
Friday 08/08 21.00
Cathedral Basilica
Harpbeat Orchestra
Celtic Harp Orchestra – Conductor F. Constable
Saturday 09/08 9pm
Basilica of St. Carpoforo
Dreams and visions: M.E. Bossi and vocal chamber music
Soloists from the Brescia Chamber Orchestra: Chiara Scannapieco, mezzo-soprano; Filippo Ghidoni, violin; Alessandro Zilioli, piano.
In collaboration with the Marco Enrico Bossi Festival and the Voci e suoni nel silenzio (Voices and Sounds in Silence) series.
Monday 11/08 9.00 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica
Maurice Clerc – Organ
In collaboration with “Organ Routes in the Province and Diocese of Como”
Tuesday 12/08 6.30 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica
Holy Mass in memory of deceased chapel masters and singers
Followed by open rehearsals of the Como Cathedral Music Chapel – Conductor N. Negrini
Wednesday 13/08 9.00 p.m.
Breccia – Parish Church of St. Cassiano
Antonello Molteni and Luigi Ricco – Violin and organ
In collaboration with the Parish of St. Cassiano in Breccia
Thursday 14/08 9.00 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica
First Vespers with organ
Lorenzo Pestuggia – Organ
