Concert Mass Marking the 800th Anniversary of the Death of St. Francis: Mozart's Requiem

To commemorate the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, the Associazione MUSICA al CUORE invites you to an extraordinary CONCERT MASS at the Madonna del Sasso Church in Orselina.

At the heart of the program is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem in D minor, K. 626—one of the most moving and significant works in the history of music. With its incomparable blend of grief, consolation, drama, and hope, the Requiem touches on the existential questions of human life while simultaneously evoking a sense of reconciliation and peace.

Performing will be: Gruppo Vocale Cantemus, conducted by Līga Liedskalniņa, and the Orchestra della Svizzera italiana (OSI). The soloists are Lorenza Donadini (soprano), Candice Carmalt (alto), Nuno Santos (tenor), and Manuel Pollinger (bass).

The Holy Mass will be celebrated by the Capuchin friars of Madonna del Sasso. Liturgy and music come together to form a solemn unity of remembrance, reflection, and hope.

Following Mozart’s Requiem, “Fratello Sole e Sorella Luna” by Prof. Orfeo Mandozzi will be performed. The work premiered last year at Madonna del Sasso and has since been thoroughly revised and further developed by the composer. On October 4, the new version of the work will have its world premiere.

Inspired by the famous “Canticle of the Sun” by St. Francis of Assisi, the work speaks to humanity’s deep connection with creation: with Brother Sun and Sister Moon, with wind, water, fire, and earth. It is a musical homage to peace, to the preservation of creation, and to that universal brotherhood that Francis of Assisi exemplified 800 years ago—a message that has lost none of its power or relevance to this day.

With this special *Messa concertata*, MUSICA al CUORE brings together two works that, in different ways, speak of transience and hope, of spirituality and humanity. In the unique atmosphere of the Madonna del Sasso, a solemn encounter between liturgy and music takes place—a moment of reflection, remembrance, and inner connection.

Everyone is warmly welcome. Music that brings people together—a place of silence that inspires. Afterward, all guests are cordially invited to a reception and informal gathering. Organizer: Associazione MUSICA al CUORE www.musica-al-cuore.com.

In collaboration with the Capuchin Friars of Madonna del Sasso and the municipality of Orselina. With support from the Ernst Göhner Foundation.

Families with children are especially welcome. Please arrive 20 minutes before the concert begins.

Note: This text was translated by machine translation software and not by a human translator. It may contain translation errors.