Testimonials

It was my first time at the festival and it was memorable, both personally and as president of Turismo Centro de Portugal. At 33 years old, this is a mature event and this entity needs to work together with the organizers.

Rui Ventura
President of Turismo Centro de Portugal

It's a festival with a very important history. Organizing 50 concerts is quite an achievement, with such diversity, quality, and the ability to engage audiences. They fully deserve the support of the Ministry of Culture.

Américo Rodrigues
Director-General of the Arts

This place was made for this: the atmosphere of the Monastery as a place of prayer reminds us that music is also a kind of conversation with the universe. It's always good to be part of projects that bring culture and music to this world.

Sofia Fomina
Soprano

It was a perfect night, with a full house. It couldn't have been better. The programmer can give the audience what they want to hear, but can also have the courage to challenge the audience. I congratulate you for that.

António Zambujo
Singer

I'll take these memories with me forever. I didn't know the city or the monastery, and I was fascinated. It's a very special place, and I think it's wonderful that they're making use of this heritage space. Long live this festival!

Paula Morelenbaum
Singer

It was special to play with this youth orchestra; incredible energy and a desire to learn. The Festival deserves credit for taking place in this city, and after 33 years they have an audience. Everything works well, and it's very enjoyable.

Pavel Gomziakov
Cellist

A festival like this is always important, also for cultural development outside of major urban centers. It was good to hear my music, surrounded by the atmosphere of the monastery. It was something mystical, with a magical aura.

Francisco Lima
Composer

We come back here every year and it's always a pleasure. We are warmly welcomed and the Monastery grounds inspire us. It was excellent and I think the public enjoyed it very much too.

Dinis Sousa
Conductor of the Orchestra XXI

I noticed a tremendous improvement in your structure: the machine is perfectly synchronized, and congratulations on the festival and the entire season. In Portugal, we have structures with great quality, management, programming, and sustainability!

Pedro Carneiro
Conductor of the Jovem Orquestra Portuguesa

It's a pleasure to welcome more than two dozen shows to the Monastery during the festival, with an international programme on the scale of what this monument represents to the world.

Ana Pagará
Director of the Monastery of Alcobaça

It is an honour and a privilege to have this partnership at the Monastery of Alcobaça, a guarantee of quality music production throughout the year, with moments that reflect the spirit of this World Heritage site.

Alexandre Pais
President of Museums and Monuments of Portugal

It was very special to allow this orchestra of musicians aged between 18 and 26, from Alto Minho and Spain, to close the tour here, in this fantastic space [Monastery Fence].

Nuno Coelho
Conductor of the Alto Minho Youth Orchestra

I commend the resilience of Cistermúsica. We know how difficult it is to develop a classical music festival, but we need partners and a network of Culture in order to design another Portugal, another Culture project for the country.

Filipa Lima
President of the Musicis Pontem Association - Alto Minho Orchestra

It's always a pleasure to perform as part of the festival; the connection is great, I really like the city and the organisation, and it was very important for me to come back to Alcobaça.

Bruno Belthoise
Musician