Testimonials

I'm used to listening to the Festival and this was the first time I'd performed here, with the opportunity to work with conductor João Paulo Santos. It was a very positive experience, giving voice to these composers.

Cecília Rodrigues
Soprano

It was a magnificent experience. We found an extremely dedicated audience and a privileged heritage context. This monastery welcomes music in a very special way. We hope to return.

Ignacio Ramal
Director of The Ministers of Pastime ensemble

Continue to hold the Festival, because it's very important not only for there to be summer festivals in various parts of the country, but also to have activity throughout the year so that the population can have access to high quality class.

Dinis Sousa
Conductor of Orchestra XXI

It was an honour to inaugurate this wonderful room with incredible acoustics [Library Room at the Montebelo Mosteiro de Alcobaça Historic Hotel], and I'd like to congratulate you, it's a fantastic festival and the organising team has been wonderful.

Cistermúsica is a festival to be reckoned with in this country and it's very important that it continues to be supported by various organisations so that this region can maintain a cultural event of such variety and quality.

Filipa Palhares
Conductor

As a regular spectator, this year has once again been extraordinary, not only because of the diversity of the programmes but, as always, because of the beautiful venues the programme-makers have chosen for each of the concerts.

Susana Santos
Communications Director at El Corte Inglés (Lisbon)

It's the 30th edition, so I must salute the persistence and resilience that this festival has had in Alcobaça. It's welcome that we're not in Lisbon and that we have international shows outside the country's capital.

Pedro Cegonho
Member of Parliament

Cistermúsica is an intangible asset because it brings the region's monuments and history to life. It's a unique music experience that attracts audiences to the Centre and West of Portugal. Here's to another 30 years of success!

Alexandre Marto Pereira
CEO United Hotels of Portugal

Congratulations! It's marvellous to have a festival with this longevity and we artists have to be grateful for finding people with the will to do this work, not once, but every year for thirty years!

Maria Jonas
Mezzo-soprano and director of Ars Choralis Coeln

Congratulations to the Cistermúsica team for having managed to survive 30 years in a cultural sector that isn't easy, but whose pleasure and rewards are enormous. I hope they continue for many years to come!

Dirk Fassbender
International Piano Week of Óbidos

Here's to another 30 years of Cistermúsica! I've been coming here for many years and I've experienced some absolutely extraordinary concerts.

João Chambers
Author/director at RDP Antena 2

Bravo to the Festival and the city! This place is marvellous, we had a very beautiful evening here.

John Hodian
Musician and musical director of The Naghash Ensemble

It was a pleasure to return, this time with the honour of reading poems at The Naghash Ensemble concert. It was a beautiful concert, with a transcendental dimension! I always applaud the Festival, it's marvellous to see art in the Western region.

Sónia Balacó
Actress and Poet

The concert we brought reminded me of how, at the time, the Monastery of Alcobaça was a kind of patron of culture, spreading polyphonic music to the monasteries that depended on it throughout the country. And it's what Cistermúsica does today too!

Tiago Mota
Alma Ensemble Musician