From Bomba Estéreo to Gloria Estefan, Madrid is getting ready for a very wide agenda of free concerts for Columbus Day. And although the penultimate concert of the International Organ Cycle of the Pontifical Basilica of San Miguel is not part of that program, it will take place on October 12. And free of charge.
An appointment that is already a regular every week since late September and in which you can hear the sound of one of the best organs in Madrid by some of the best organists: Montserrat Torrent, Braulio Caballero-Figueroa or, as we will experience this Sunday, Pierluigi Mazzoni.
Programming of the San Miguel International Organ Cycle
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the reconstruction of its organ, the Pontifical Basilica of St. Michael has organized this series of five free concerts. The first three were performed by Daniel Martín Salvador, Montserrat Torrent and Braulio Caballero-Figueroa since the end of September, and the others will take place in October. These are the dates:
- October 12: The great European organ literature with Pierluigi Mazzoni.
- October 25: Year after year with Lucie Žáková
All concerts are free until full capacity is reached and begin at 7:30 p.m. at the basilica, 4 Calle de San Justo.
Pierluigi Mazzoni, from Italy to the world
Pierluigi Mazzoni is the kind of artist who was simply born for music. He began his musical studies at the age of 5 in his native Monopoli (Italy) and after his postgraduate studies in organ at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome (Vatican City), Mazzoni is now a renowned organist, choir director, teacher and international concert performer.
Titles that are part of an extensive professional career that places him as one of the best organists in Europe. In addition to taking part in all kinds of events: organ music dissemination projects such as Japigi Duo, choral and orchestral meetings, international festivals such as Sit laus Plena, where he performs unpublished works by composers from the Italian region of Apulia…
The organ designed to be “the concert organ of Madrid”.
Whoever goes now to the Pontifical Basilica of San Miguel, what they will hear will be the original organ case created in 1746. An artistic jewel that is a fundamental part of the church. A constructive part even, because the organ is attached to the rest of the architecture of the building.
After its last reconstruction in 1975 it became one of the very few mechanical organs in Madrid at the time, fulfilling its goal of being a reference for concerts in the city. A title that was maintained until the arrival of the organ of the National Auditorium.
Other concerts in the Pontifical Basilica of St. Michael this year
Beyond the International Organ Cycle, the Pontifical Basilica of St. Michael has a wide program of musical events. From Candlelight concerts dedicated to Mozart, Bach or Vivaldi, to choral performances such as that of the Madrid Choral Society or the soprano Anna Mishchenko.