Join us for a performance of Saint Maurice Oratorio Fide fortis. The concert will be the solemn culmination of the eighth-centenary celebrations of St Maurice’s Parish in Wrocław.
The work was composed specially for this occasion by Piotr Pałka, with a libretto by Father Tadeusz Golecki. It tells the story of St Maurice – the patron saint of the parish and one of the most important saints in the Christian tradition. He was a Roman soldier, who remained faithful to his beliefs, becoming a symbol of courage, steadfastness, and deep faith.
The anniversary of St Maurice’s Parish is an important element in the history of Wrocław, showcasing the multicultural and multi-faith character of the capital of Lower Silesia and the changing fortunes of its inhabitants over the centuries. Located in Przedmieście Oławskie, the church is linked both to the 12th-century settlement of Walloon weavers and to the post-war history of Polish displaced persons from the Eastern Borderlands. The district, severely damaged in 1945, later became a settlement site for thousands of newcomers and an important symbol of reconstruction after World War II.
The performance will bring together the Sudeten Philharmonic Orchestra, Wrocław University of Science and Technology Choir, and the Wrocław University of Economics Choir. The solo parts will be performed by Aleksandra Hanus (soprano), Joanna Rot (alto), Marek Bałata (tenor), and Damian Szczepański (baritone). Robert Gonera will be narrator, and the whole will be conducted by composer and conductor Piotr Pałka. The event will also feature an award ceremony honouring individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the parish and its history.
The concert is organised by St Maurice’s Parish in Wrocław and the Memory and Future Centre.