On 14 of October, in the basilica of the Presentation of Our Lady in Wadowice, our Museum organized a special concert “Ave Maria from different parts of the world” to honor of John Paul II on the occasion of the 39th anniversary of his pontificate and the end of the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Fatima.
Excellent soloists: Anna Lasota from the Music Theater in Poznan and Jakub Oczkowski from the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera in Warsaw, bravely presented the most beautiful songs of various epochs. „Ave Maria” by G. Caccini, M. Lorenc, „Pie Jesu” by A.L. Webber, „Adagio” by T. Albinoni or „Mary did you know” by B. Green.

The concert included also the favorite songs of the Holy Father and the most beautiful Polish Marian songs – „Czarna Madonno” and „Maryjo, śliczna Pani”.

The joyful celebration was ended with a singsong of “Barka”, the song about which John Paul II spoke in 2002: „I wanted to say, at the end, that this song led me from the homeland 23 years ago. I had it in my ears when I heard the verdict of the conclave, and I didn’t part with this song throughout all these years. It was some kind of hidden breath of Motherland, it was also a guide on various roads of the Church and it brought me many times here – to Błonia, under Kościuszko Mound. Thank you, the song.”

The soloists were accompanied by great musicians: Michał Bruliński – piano, Angelika Kierońska – violin, Karolina Stasiowska – viola and Anna Podkościelna-Cyż – cello.

The concert was led by Lukasz Lech.