Ennio Morricone and Stefan Stuligrosz on the same stage

The event Poland has never witnessed before – one stage and the works of two composers whose fame exceeds Europe and reaches far across the world. Ennio Morricone – an Italian composer, a genius of film music creation, the winner of the honorary Oscar and Stefan Stuligrosz – a renowned Polish conductor and composer, the founder of Poznańskie Słowiki (Poznan Nightingales) choir, the truly charismatic personality. They both will stand arm in arm to be presented with the Per Artem ad Deum medal by President of the Pontifical Council for Culture HE Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi.

The contest chapter presents the accolades to the creators who have substantially contributed to European art and culture development in a lasting and significant way and thus promoted bonds with the Church and facilitated dialogue between different cultures of contemporary world. Targi Kielce is the only place in the world where this exceptional distinction has been presented for 8 years. The Per Artem ad Deum Medal accompanies the International Exhibition of Church Construction, Church Fittings and Furnishings and Religious Art SACROEXPO; Europe’s largest event of this kind which brings together over 250 exhibitors from over a dozen of courtiers.

- This year’s edition of the competition has for the first time expanded to the European scale – says Andrzej Mochoń PhD, Targi Kielce President of Board; the member of the Per Artem Ad Deum medal chapter - out of sixteen contest nominees put forward by, inter alia, the Czech Republic Ministry of Culture, Ivan Devcic PhD, the Latvian Theatre Union, the chapter has selected five laureates to be presented with the medal: Ennio Morricone, Stefan Stuligrosz, Otakáro Maria Schmidt – documentary firm director from Czech Republic, Stanisław Rodziński – a Polish painter and Leszek Sobecki who is also a painter. The laureate fellowship already comprises of Leszek Mądzik, Stanisław Niemczyk, Wojciech Kilar and Krzysztof Zanussi.

The Medal chapter upon selecting the two distinguished artists to be presented with this prestigious accolade has provided the justification of their choice:

Ennio Morricone: For the inventive genius to create the intimacy marked with lyricisms and simplicity; for producing sounds all the world loves.

Stefan Stuligrosz: For being optimistic and consequent on his way to soul liberation

The concert honoured by the presence of the laureates will be held on 29th September in the Targi Kielce E pavilion; Poland’s most state of the art exhibition hall. The concert will feature the Swietokrzyskie Philharmonic Orchestra performing Ennio Morricone’s compositions and the Poznan Nightingales.