Musicians for church music on Lake Como

Above Ossuccio, facing Isola Comacina, a cobbled path climbs among the olive trees. Along the way are fourteen baroque chapels, one after another, filled with statues telling the mysteries of the Rosary. At the top stands the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Soccorso. This is the Sacro Monte of Ossuccio, a World Heritage Site. If you are looking for musicians for church music for a wedding on Lake Como, Maestro Ilarion, tenor, brings live sacred music to places like this too.

The path to yes

Think of a couple who want to arrive at church neither by car nor by boat. They want to walk there, with their guests, as pilgrims once did. They choose to climb the Sacro Monte on the morning of their wedding.

Guests gather at the bottom, near the lake. Elegant shoes are in their bags, comfortable shoes on their feet. They climb slowly, all together. At each chapel they pause for a moment: some look at the statues, some turn to watch the lake widening below, with green Isola Comacina in the middle of the water.

The groom went up first and waits at the sanctuary. The bride climbs with her father, at the back of the group. It is a slow walk, unhurried, almost a prayer made with the feet.

At the top, guests change their shoes and straighten their clothes, laughing. Then they enter the sanctuary. The bride arrives last. When she appears in the doorway, still short of breath from the climb, the organ begins and the tenor's voice rises in the church. The whole path, in that moment, makes sense.

During the Ave Maria, the bride brings flowers to the Madonna del Soccorso, to whom the families of the Tremezzina have climbed for centuries. Through the windows, the lake shines.

Afterwards, the descent is a celebration: everyone walks down singing, past the chapels, to the lake, where boats are waiting for the reception.

The ceremony musicians

• The tenor for the solo pieces and the Ave Maria.
• The organist to accompany the liturgy, where the church has an organ.
• The choir, if present, for the congregation's chants.
• The parish priest or sanctuary rector to approve the programme and logistics.

Church music on Lake Como, for every occasion

The Maestro sings for weddings, baptisms, anniversaries and other celebrations:

• Como: the Cathedral, the Basilica of Sant'Abbondio, the Basilica of San Fedele, Brunate.
• Tremezzina: Ossuccio, Lenno, Mezzegra, Tremezzo, Sala Comacina, Isola Comacina.
• Western shore: Cernobbio, Moltrasio, Carate Urio, Laglio, Brienno, Argegno, Colonno, Griante, Cadenabbia, Menaggio, San Siro, Cremia, Pianello del Lario, Musso, Dongo, Gravedona, Domaso.
• Lario Triangle: Torno, Blevio, Faggeto Lario, Pognana, Nesso, Lezzeno, Bellagio, Civenna.
• Eastern shore and Lecco: Varenna, Fiumelatte, Perledo, Bellano, Dervio, Colico, Mandello del Lario, Abbadia Lariana, Lecco.

See also the page on church wedding musicians on Lake Como and those on church music in Tuscany and on the Amalfi Coast.

After the ceremony

Maestro Ilarion is a tenor and pianist: he can also accompany the aperitif and villa reception with elegant live music.

Tell us your date with the request for church music.

Getting married somewhere else? Here are all the places where I sing, from Sicily to Lake Como.