Thursday, June 18 at 7:00pm
St. Norbert Church, Northbrook IL
Friday, June 19 at 7:30pm
St. John Cantius Church, Chicago IL
Saturday, June 20 at 7:30pm
St. Raphael Catholic Church, Naperville IL
Sunday, June 21 at 3:00pm
Des Plaines Theatre, Des Plaines IL
Experience a rare and extraordinary evening of music performed by Sacred Voices, the Choir of the Cardinal Bartolucci Foundation.
Directly from Rome, 40 distinguished musicians from Roman and Vatican Choirs bring the timeless tradition of Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony—music that has resonated for centuries within the walls of the Vatican. Rooted in the historic Roman School of sacred music, the program celebrates the beauty, spirituality, and artistic legacy of the Catholic Church and the great composers of the Sistine Chapel Choir. Under the direction of Pontifical Cantore Adriano Caroletti, the Choir will be accompanied by Josep Solè Coll, the organist of the Pope and of St. Peter’s
Basilica.
The repertoire is varied, mainly dedicated to the composers of the Sistine Chapel Choir. In particular Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, the prince of music, and then Lorenzo
Perosi and Domenico Bartolucci, who wrote music and directed the Pope’s Choir in the 20th century. The music of these artists resonated and still resonates to accompany the solemn liturgies of the Popes in the Sistine Chapel and in St. Peter’s Basilica and represents the most solemn music repertoire of the Catholic Church.
The Illinois tour in 2026 is organized by the Cardinal Domenico Bartolucci Foundation dedicated to the legendary Maestro who directed the Sistine Chapel Choir for almost 50 years and was
later made a Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI for his incredible service to the Church.
The event is presented on the occasion of Festa della Musica.
Since 1985, the European Year of Music, every summer solstice the Festa della Musica has brought musical events and concerts across Europe and the world, conveying the universal message of culture, participation, inclusion, harmony, and cross-cutting connection that music is able to offer through performers, both professional and amateur. The festival is, in fact, a major event that celebrates music in its many forms, making it accessible everywhere—from public spaces such as squares, parks, stations, and streets, to historic and institutional venues such as museums, places of worship, ministries, and embassies, as well as socially vulnerable settings such as prisons and hospitals.
The theme chosen for the 2026 edition is “THE VOICE OF PLACES,” and the festival will be dedicated to choirs and to the beauty of the unique characteristics of Italian territories.