Teodoro Riccio (c. 1540 - c. 1601)
The mass is dedicated to the King of Poland and the Grand Duke of Lithuania Steponas Bator

Teodoro Riccio's Liber primus missarum (First Book of Masses) (1579) is the first published piece of music to honor Stephen Bathory (1533–1586) after he became King of Poland in 1576. This work testifies to the great political importance of the event - a diplomatic achievement that crowned the unstable, politically turbulent times. It is the first piece of music printed in the Kingdom under the patronage of Riccio's employer, Duke Georg Friedrich of Prussia, nobleman of Brandenburg-Ansbach. In the dedication, Kapellmeister Teodoro Riccio addresses Stephen Batory as both King of Poland and Duke of Prussia, thus marking the strong political bond between these neighboring countries.
Conductor, organist and harpsichordist Detlef Bratschke is artistic director of the famous Balthasar Neumann Choir and professor at the Bremen University of the Arts. He is a guest at our festival for the second time - last year Bratschke directed Riccio's "Evening" project.

The concert is dedicated to the 700th anniversary of Vilnius