Milan Cathedral once again confirms its role as the spiritual and cultural heart of the city with two events of extraordinary artistic significance in preparation for Easter.
The Veneranda Fabbrica renews its traditional tribute to the citizens by offering a journey that explores the mystery of the Passion through the masterpieces of two giants in the history of music: Johann Sebastian Bach and Tomás Luis de Victoria.
With this dual musical proposal, the Institution paves the way toward the 300th anniversary of the first performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion, which will be celebrated in 2027.
«Celebrating Easter in the Cathedral through the genius of Bach and the spiritual depth of de Victoria means opening oneself to a ‘Word that becomes music’ within a story—the human story—that changes from generation to generation. With the Johannes-Passion, the Gospel narrative becomes living drama, calling us to reflect on human fragility and on the strength of Hope in a time like ours, marked by deep wounds.
Combining this masterpiece with de Victoria’s work in the quiet of the retrochoir allows us to return to the essential core of the Mystery: where the architecture of the Cathedral becomes a womb for prayer, music becomes the instrument that helps decipher the enigma of suffering in the light of the Resurrection.
It is the tribute that the Veneranda Fabbrica offers to the city, so that artistic beauty may become a privileged pathfor an authentic encounter with the Revelation of Divine Love. »
– Mons. Gianantonio Borgonovo, Archpriest of the Cathedral
The traditional Easter Concert offered to the city by the Veneranda Fabbrica
1st april 2026, at 7.30 p.m.
Milan Cathedral
Passion of Jesus according to John by J.S. Bach
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laBarocca Instrumental and Vocal Ensemble, Offiucium Musicum Instrumental Ensemble and Schola Cantorum Venerandae Fabricae directed by Ruben Jais
As every year, Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo presents, during the Easter season, the magnificent repertoire of Bach’s Passions.
This event—now a true highlight of Milan’s Easter cultural program—takes on a particularly symbolic meaning again this year, in a historical moment marked by the horrors of destruction: an invocation for peace on the threshold of the Easter Triduum.
For the occasion, Officium Musicum instrumental Ensemble and the Schola Cantorum Venerandae Fabricae will perform alongside laBarocca instrumental and vocal ensemble.
An international cast completes the ensembles on stage for this masterpiece by the Genius of Eisenach, universally considered one of the greatest artistic achievements in the history of music: Werner Güra (Evangelist), Marco Saccardin (Jesus), Sonia Tedla Chebreab (Soprano + Ancilla), Hyun Jung Angela Oh (Alto), Massimo Altieri (Tenor + Servus), Michele Chiusi (Bass), Giacomo Pieracci (Pilatus), and Dario Previato (Petrus).
Jacopo Facchini serves as Choir Master. Cristiano Contadin performs on the viola da gamba.
The performance is conducted by Ruben Jais, founder of the ensemble and current Superintendent of Fondazione Toscanini.
Access Information:
Access to the concert on 1st April in the Cathedral is free, with mandatory reservation on www.duomomilano.it.
Reservations open at 4:00 p.m. on 24 March and will remain available until all seats have been filled.
For information: [email protected].
Access to the Cathedral will be permitted from 6:45 p.m. upon presentation of your booking at the entrance gates on the façade.
For this special occasion, the concert will also be available via streaming: for those unable to come to the Cathedral, it will be possible to connect to the Milan Cathedral’s YouTube channel (Duomo Milano TV), also accessible from www.duomomilano.it, and secure a seat online.
A special “Scuola della Cattedrale”
19 march 2026, at 7.30 p.m.
Milan Cathedral – Retrochoir
The passion of Jesus according to John form the Officium Hebdomadae Sancatae by Tomás Luis de Victoria
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Listening and Performance Guide as performed by the Schola Cantorum Venerandae Fabricae directed by Massimo Palombella
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Milan Cathedral hosts a special initiative of the “Scuola della Cattedrale”, a series of cultural events created and directed by Monsignor Gianantonio Borgonovo, Archpriest of the Cathedral.
In one of the Cathedral’s most evocative spaces—the retrochoir, where the light inlays of the stained glass windows blend with the architectural lines —the Schola Cantorum Venerandae Fabricae, conducted by Massimo Palombella, will perform one of Tomás Luis de Victoria’s masterpieces: the Passion According to John, from the Officium Hebdomadae Sanctae (Rome, Alexandrum Gardanum, 1585).
Access Information:
Admission from 7:00 p.m., upon presentation of the reservation at the entrance checkpoint (Side doors – Piazza del Duomo, Arcivescovado side).
Admission to the events of the “Scuola della Cattedrale” is always free of charge, with mandatory reservation on the website www.duomomilano.it.
Reservations are accepted until all available seats have been filled (capacity is limited for this event).
For further information: [email protected]
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