Summary of the International Festival of Sacred Music "Gaude Mater”

20th International Festival of Sacred Music “Gaude Mater” was titled “Ars Sacra – Dialogue of Cultures”. The most important events of the jubilee edition were: Inaugural Concert with Bobby McFerrin and Morphing Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Oratorio “Messiah” performed by Retrospect Ensemble and Final Concert “Seven Gates of Jerusalem” of Krzysztof Penderecki conducted by the composer himself. The above mentioned events attracted great interest of the audience; the orthodox music concert and the performance of “Al-Kindi” Ensemble with Whirling Dervishes enjoyed much attention.

Within the Festival’s programme the audience heard five pre-performances of music compositions, saw two premieres “Logos” and “Chopin” which were prepared especially for the Festival and the cycle of paintings “The Way of the Cross” by Stanisław Rodziński, which was produced against Festival’s order.

Soon after the Festival a CD titled “Ars Sacra – Dialogue of Cultures” with the recordings of this year’s concerts will be published. The publishers of the CD are: the Centre of Culture Promotion “Gaude Mater” and Polish Radio in Katowice.

The Festival’s budget composes of: the European Union funds in the amount of 1.600.000PLN; the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage funds in the amount of 300.000PLN; the Częstochowa City Council funds in the amount of 280.00PLN; own funds of the Centre and funds from sponsors.

Festival in numbers:

44 events: 23 concerts, 2 art exhibitions, 3 spectacles, 7 lectures, 1 conference, 1 scientific session, 7 workshops.

875 artists from 23 countries all around the world took part in the Festival.

Attendance: concert – 7.500 people (therewith 6.000 sold tickets), free admission events – 2.400 people; conference, seminar and scientific session – 380 people, Etnight – 1.200 people, exit concerts – 810 people.

Total attendance: 12.290 people