Musica Sacra

The third weekend of September sees the city centre of Maastricht completely dedicated to Musica Sacra. This three-day arts festival is always centred around an annually changing theme that plays a pivotal role throughout the entire programme, which comprises around 100 different events each year. The festival theme for 2024 is "Of Free Will."

The programme spans a wide range of genres, styles, and eras, performed by top national and international musicians and ensembles, alongside new and emerging talent. In addition to the musical programming, there is an extensive offering of theatre, film, dance, exhibitions, lectures, and excursions. Many of the programme's components are specially produced for Musica Sacra Maastricht and premiere during the festival.

Theme: Of Free Will
One of the paradoxes of our time is the combination of belief in a malleable society and the overshadowing of free will. For a society to be mouldable, we are dependent on each other, while in decisions we can make independently—such as quitting the use of narcotics or overcoming phobic behaviour—the existence of free will is often called into question. Philosophers have been grappling with the question of whether free will exists for centuries. From Confucius to Kant, and from Spinoza to Sartre, no one has been able to resolve it.

Man can indeed do what he wills, but he cannot will what he wills, as Schopenhauer said. Is that true? Perhaps we need to distinguish between free will and weakness of will? And what about vocation, or indeed missing one’s calling? In this festival edition, you’re invited to answer those questions yourself. Or not—depending on the existence of your free will.