9 WEEKS OF BAROQUE FESTIVAL

23 August | Sunday 4:00pm – 8:00pm
A DAY FOR BARBARA / ST BARBARA'S CHURCH IN MANĚTÍN
The last show of the exhibition On the Pilsen Palette, Concerto Aventino / a concert of Baroque music played on period instruments

Along the way through West Bohemia, there are many forgotten places that still speak to us about belief, love and hope. The pilgrim St Barbara's Church in Manětín is undoubtedly one of those that attract people with their stories, secrets and sanctification. It is a memorial of a time when people believed in the order of the created world, they could love thy neighbour like themselves and live in the hope of eternal life... For almost seven centuries, from a small medieval chapel to the noble Baroque church with a well in the rock under the tower, people have been coming to the Virgin Barbara with their worries and prayers. They have brought gifts. Manětín’s aristocracy built a big stone church in the 17th century to replace the old wooden one. Generations of local gentry and bourgeoisie funded the creation of an altar, paintings, sculptures and the organ to spread their respect of St Barbara, they watch over the quiet sleep of those who rest at the local cemetery by the church... Despite storms and in spite of the time that has elapsed, the St Barbara's Church retains a unique atmosphere. With its unusual energy, it attracts the attention of those who can perceive it; with its dingy beauty, it captivates lovers of Baroque art carrying the message of time... (PhDr I Bukačová, The Awakening of Barbara's Organ).
The St Barbara‘s Church is not usually open to public. It opens exceptionally for fund-raising events for the renovation of its valuable organ. The tradition of holding a mass on the day of its patron saint is returning.

PROGRAMME
A Day for Barbara is also the last showing of the exhibition On the Pilsen Palette – a project that has connected almost seventy artists from the Pilsen Region to help in the restoration of this precious instrument – the organ at the St Barbara's Church in Manětín. The exhibition of 67 painting palettes which became the basis for the work of many artists has already travelled around several places in Pilsen and its surrounds and will continue to other destinations. There will be several auctions organised at the end of November 2015 at which the palettes will be auctioned and the proceeds will go towards the organ at the St Barbara's Church. The exhibition in the church will be open from 16 August to 23 August 2015. On the last day of the exhibition, visitors can join a lecture by an experienced organ-maker, Dalibor Michek, about this organ and ask him questions. They will be able to visit the church, which is normally closed to public, and learn something about its history. These artistic sensations will be accompanied by a concert by Concerto Aventino with their programme "Fiati e corde" in a Baroque style.
If weather permits, visitors to Manětín will be able to wait for the exceptionally-dark night sky with all the stars and test out the hospitality of Manětín citizens.
4:00pm welcome and presentation of the exhibition On the Pilsen Palette
4:15pm – 5:45pm a talk about the organ and the St Barbara's Church, visits to the church and the exhibition
6:00pm – 7:00pm a concert of Baroque music by Concerto Aventino with their programme "Fiati e corde".
7:00pm – 8:00pm small refreshments

ARTISTS AND PARTICIPANTS
CONCERTO AVENTINO

Admission: optional | a fund-raiser for an organ
TICKETS AT THE VENUE
Capacity: 200 places
Partner: Svět podle Jakuba, z.s.

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