With the organ concert that saw the participation of Giovanni Allevi was closed the XIV INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF SACRED MUSIC AND ART that took place in Rome and in the Vatican from October 28th to November 4th.

In an official note the Founder and General President of the Fondazione Pro Musica e Arte Sacra, Sen. Dr. h.c. mult. Hans-Albert Courtial said: "The 2015 Festival was an unprecedented success: about 600 artists particpated, orchestra professionals and vocalists, 14 soloists, 6 conductors and choirs, 2 organists took part. The authentically international dimension of our Festival has been confirmed by the countries of origin of these artists, as many as nine this year: Japan, Germany, Sweden, Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Austria, Vatican City and Italy ".

The public showed great appreciation for the choices of the program, which included great masterpieces of symphonic, choral and organ music, well-known pages coupled with surprising discoveries by contemporary authors. About 11,000 people participated in the musical events in the three papal Basilicas of St. Peter, St. Paul outside the walls and St. Mary Major, together with the Basilica of St. Ignatius in Campo Marzio. With a truly international participation in this case, as the countries of origin were Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Austria, Poland, Sweden, France, Principality of Liechtenstein, Israel, Japan, China, United States of America, India, Federation Russia, Denmark, Vatican City, Italy.

Of course, the most anticipated musical appointment of the Festival was with the Wiener Philharmoniker, orchestra in residence since the first edition. Present in the basilica of San Paolo more than 3000 people, to listen to the Seventh and Eighth Symphony of Beethoven directed with an authoritative and sure look by the Swedish Herbert Blomstedt, among the greatest living orchestra conductors, in one of his rare appearances in Italy. A concert organized in honor of and in the presence of the LL.AA.SS the Sovereign Prince Hans-Adam II and his wife the Princess Marie von und zu Liechtenstein.

The Festival does not want to be just listened but offering true spiritual elevation through music also encourages the ecumenical dialogue, as happened with the participation of the St. Jacobs Kammarkör in Stockholm. In addition, the Choir and the Japanese Orchestra of the Illuminart Philharmonic took part in the Festival - for the third time - consisting of orchestra and choir professors belonging to different religious denominations and representative of the religious reality of the Japanese State, thus giving life also for interreligious dialogue between Christians and the religions that coexist in Japan.

Sen. Dr. h.c. mult. Hans-Albert Courtial is scheduling the XV edition of the Festival in 2016 with these words: “It has always been known that music, by virtue of its transcendent character, is able to transmit spiritual experiences more effectively than words and images. This is why it is closely related to faith and religious rites have always been accompanied by music. For me it is always a great joy to help bring people to listen to sacred music in sacred places also through the International Festival of Music and Sacred Art. See you again, therefore, in October-November 2016.

• The press conference of the International Festival of Sacred Music and Art took place on 7 November 2016 at 12.00 at Palazzo Cardinal Cesi
  The XV International Festival of Sacred Music and Art Rome and the Vatican took place in Rome and the Vatican from 16 to 21 November 2016 with the Wiener Philharmoniker as residence orchestra