February 23, 2026
Portugal | Lisbon & Online

The first In Varietate Concordia Talk, “Europe, variations on a theme”, will take place on 23 February 2026 (18:00 WET / 19:00 CET) at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, Portugal, and will be livestreamed via the European Heritage Hub’s YouTube channel.

The Talk features a panel of four artists and prominent advocates of Iberian culture: conductor, composer and musician Jordi Savall, baritone and founder/president of the Centre Européen de Musique Jorge Chaminé, celebrated pianist Maria João Pires, and fado singer and curator of the Ponta Delgada 2026 – Portuguese Capital of Culture project, Kátia Guerreiro, moderated by Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Secretary General of Europa Nostra and Project Leader of the European Heritage Hub.

Forty years after Portugal and Spain joined the European Union, and on the eve of the fourth year of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the speakers will reflect on how our common musical heritage can inspire unity and peace in Europe at a time when democratic values face growing challenges.

 
Welcome by
– António Feijó, President of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
– Maria Calado, President of the Centro Nacional de Cultura

Addresses by
– Alberto Santos, Secretary of State for Culture
– Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon

Dialogue between
– Jordi Savall, conductor, composer and musician
– Jorge Chaminé, baritone and founder/president of the Centre Européen de Musique
– Maria João Pires, pianist and educator
– Katia Guerreiro, fado singer and representative of the Ponta Delgada 2026 – Portuguese Capital of Culture

Moderated by Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Secretary General of Europa Nostra

This event is part of the In Varietate Concordia initiative, launched by the EU-funded European Heritage Hub and coordinated by Europa Nostra and the Centro Nacional de Cultura, with the support of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

Inspired by the European Union’s motto ‘United in Diversity’, the initiative promotes live conversations, the production of a series of podcasts and the publication of opinion articles with the aim of stimulating critical thinking, fostering public debate and encouraging action in defence of Europe’s fundamental values such as democracy, justice, equality, solidarity and sustainability.

In Varietate Concordia continues the interdisciplinary legacy of the Helena Vaz da Silva European Award for Raising Public Awareness of Cultural Heritage, bringing together leading figures in European culture, emerging voices and representatives of civil society. The inaugural Talk is also in partnership with European Heritage Hub consortium member Centre Européen de Musique.