St. Pölten – A major musical event dedicated to the preservation of historic buildings: featuring the acclaimed programme „A Symphonic Tribute to ABBA“ transform the Salzburg Philharmonic, her choir and vocal icon Monika Ballwein under the baton of the principal conductor Elisabeth Fuchs the St. Pölten Festival Theatre into a rousing ensemble. The charity concert combines pop history in an orchestral setting with a cause close to the heart of Lower Austria: the proceeds will go directly towards the complete restoration of St. Pölten Cathedral.

Grand symphonic music meets timeless pop
When symphonic power meets legendary catchy tunes such as „Dancing Queen“, „Mamma Mia“ or „The Winner Takes It All“, the result is an energy that has the audience on their feet. Elisabeth Fuchs and Thorsten Schäffer have created arrangements for the Salzburg Philharmonic and the Festival Choir that breathe new life into the splendour of the iconic Swedish band with classical orchestral colours.

The spotlight is on the exceptional singer from Lower Austria Monika Ballwein:
„ABBA is pure musical perfection and pure emotion. Bringing these songs to the stage of the Festspielhaus with a full symphony orchestra and choir is a tremendous feat, full of joy. The fact that, through our music, we are also helping to preserve the historic heart of St. Pölten makes this evening something truly special.“

Conductor Elisabeth Fuchs Added:
„Music brings people together across all generations. With this concert, we are building a bridge between rousing pop culture and the preservation of a centuries-old cultural heritage.“

The Cathedral Restoration: A Project of the Century – Keeping the Landmark on Track
The Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary is the spiritual centre of the diocese and the architectural landmark of the capital of Lower Austria. The last comprehensive renovation took place over 75 years ago. To protect this historic building from further deterioration and preserve it for future generations, extensive restoration and refurbishment work is required on the façade, the roofs and the Baroque interior.

Following thorough preliminary investigations, a large-scale project was launched in 2024 Comprehensive refurbishment in a total of eight annual phases, which extends into the 2030s:

What’s been achieved so far & current progress on the build: Following the restoration of the heavily weathered Romanesque apse (2024) and the refurbishment of the striking cathedral tower and its west façade (2025), the focus is currently on the comprehensive renovation of the north and south façades of the nave, as well as the re-roofing of the approximately 1,000 m² roof structure with fired bricks.

Next steps: Subsequent phases of construction will include the Gothic cloister, the modernisation of the electrical and media systems, and the restoration of the Baroque interior – from the altars and pews to the monumental paintings, right through to the careful cleaning and retuning of the cathedral organ. In addition, barrier-free access will be provided.

Diocesan Bishop Dr Alois Schwarz emphasises:
„St Pölten Cathedral is not merely a bishop’s church, but a place open to the people of our region for reflection, faith and fellowship. We can only undertake this major construction project as a broad community. I would like to thank every concert-goer and all our partners from the business and wider communities who, through their support and their attendance, are sending a clear and visible message of solidarity.“

The fundraising association guarantees the highest level of reliability for the organisers and business partners. Herbert Klenk, Chairman of the Association for the Preservation and Restoration of the Cathedral, emphasises:
„An architectural gem of this magnitude can only be preserved through a united effort. Every ticket purchased and every euro raised through sponsorship is earmarked specifically for the finest craftsmanship on the building. Our partners are thus demonstrating their active commitment to St. Pölten – we guarantee the utmost transparency and a lasting impact for every cent.“