Music and Opera in Italy
OliverMusic is in the air all over Italy during this summer, balmy nights and vibrant entertainment for all tastes. Here is a selection of the main music and opera events.
RAVELLO CONCERTS, in Ravello, Amalfi Coast
Villa Rufolo, Ravello –27 Mar – 3 Dec 2017
Spanning from Spring to Autumn, far from the tourist crowds, Ravello becomes the favourite destination for those who love the silence of its Villas and its medieval churches. In that time, an audience of music lovers meet every year to listen to the concerts held in the gardens and the rooms of Villa Rufolo, famous for having inspired Wagner for the setting of his Parsifal.
RAVENNA FESTIVAL
Ravenna, 25 May – 8 July 2017
The city of Ravenna, once the capital of the Western Roman Empire, hosts a summer music festival each year in its many theatres and churches. The Byzantine basilicas, cloisters and piazzas provide a superb backdrop combining art and music. The Ravenna Festival attracts the finest artists and opera companies in the world and this edition will include apart from opera and classical music also dance, jazz, films and exhibitions.
ANDREA BOCELLI RECITAL “CONCERTO DEL SOLE” – TEATRO DEL SILENZIO
Lajatico in Tuscany
3 June 2017
Andrea Bocelli will sing at this annual appointment for lovers of good music and opera at the magic open air Teatro del Silenzio (Theatre of Silence) in Lajatico, Tuscany on 3 June, special guest this year, Goran Bregovic .
MAGGIO MUSICALE FIORENTINO FESTIVAL Summer season
Teatro Comunale – Florence – 9 June – 27 July 2017
This is one of the oldest traditional cultural events in Florence. The Stabile Orchestrale Fiorentina was born in 1928 and in 1933 it organized the first edition of the Festival, which, over the years grew to international fame. The Festival has its own Ballet Company called Maggio Dance. Operas include: Rossini’s La Cenerentola and Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Verdi’s La Traviata, Donizzetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore. There will also be concerts and a recital by acclaimed ballet dance Roberto Bolle.
CARACALLA – ROME OPERA SUMMER FESTIVAL
Caracalla’s Thermal Baths in Rome
28 Jun – 9 Aug 2017
The open air setting of the majestic Caracalla’s Thermal Baths offer a unique backdrop to one of the best loved summer opera festivals in Italy. This year’s programme includes: Bizet’s Carmen, Puccini’s Tosca and Verdi’s Nabucco and a ballet gala by acclaimed dancer Roberto Bolle.
COMO FESTIVAL – CITY OF MUSIC
Como, Lake Como
29 Jun – 14 Jul 2017
Since 2008, Festival Como Città della Musica takes place on Lake Como, the water being the symbol of a vital culture that flows, connects and grows. It involves the whole town: from the Arena of Teatro Sociale of Como to the wonderful neoclassical Villas by the lake, passing by cloisters and courts, medieval towers (such as the famous Torre del Baradello) and hidden Gardens – like the beautiful park of Villa del Grumello – from sunrise to night-time. All art genres, from dance to musicals, opera to jazz concert are represented and there will also be performance of the Verdi’s opera “Nabucco” in 29 June, 1 and 4 July.
ARENA DI VERONA
Verona – 23 June – 27 August 2017
The International Opera Festival, now in its 95th edition presents a rich calendar of events. The operas to be performed this year are: Aida, Nabucco, Rigoletto, Madama Butterfly and a Gala with Placido Domingo and a Gala for the 9th Symphony by Beethoven. Arena di Verona welcomes once again artists and public in its magnificent setting.
FESTIVAL DEI DUE MONDI
Spoleto – 30 June- 16 July 2017
This international art, culture and music festival is regarded as one of the most important cultural events in Italy. Its program distinguishes itself for outstanding original, innovative and, at times, exclusive performances.
SUED-TIROL JAZZ FESTIVAL ALTO ADIGE
South-Tyrol, 30 June- 9 July 2017
One of the most important music festivals Europe-wide is taking place over eight days with the finest jazz music performed by internationally acclaimed musicians in various venues in four of South Tyrol major towns. The most varied concerts comprising a mixture of the traditional and the modern will take place in the refined atmosphere of South Tyrol’s castles and manor houses, and also in towns and squares in the balmy summer air.
MUSICAL EVENINGS AT THE PARCO SCULTURE DEL CHIANTI
Pievasciata (Siena), 4 July – 22 August 2017
The programme of summer music at the amphitheatre in the Parco Sculture del Chianti will start on 4 July with the Romina Capitani Isola Jazz to conclude on 22 August with Nadia De Sanctis,all in the magical atmosphere of the Parco.
ESTATE MUSICALE CHIGIANA
Siena, Montalcino, Asciano
7 July- 31 August 2017
The churches, abbeys and theatres of the province and city of Siena are the enchanting settings for the Chigiana Summer, featuring maestros of international music. The yearly rich concert programme is bolstered by students from the “Alto Perfezionamento” courses that are held in the historic seat of the Accademia during the months of July and August, frequented each year by around 600 talented young musicians from more than 50 countries.
SOUNDS OF THE DOLOMITES
Trentino Region,
From 7 July to 31 August 2017
Sounds of the Dolomites is a trek along the paths of nature and art towards a horizon that opens to the vibrations and echoes of all the music in the world. Everyone sets off together, music and mountain lovers, musicians and the public. The walk continues step by step towards the summit. The concert, at the end of the walk, is an encounter with art and nature. The musician carries his instrument on his shoulder, sits on the grass or rock and plays in the centre of the public, in a natural environment. This year there will be a special event in Campiglio too.
UMBRIA JAZZ
Perugia 7-16 July 2017
From the moment of its birth in 1973, Umbria Jazz was clearly different from the other Italian jazz festivals. While jazz was usually to be heard in small clubs and occasionally in theatres and concert halls, Umbria Jazz took the music into the historic town squares of Umbria to audiences of up to twenty thousand young people, and every concert was free. The music of the New World was performed in the setting of Umbria’s medieval towns and spectacular scenery, and it was this unusual combination which gave the Festival its special appeal.
CLAZZ, INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CLASSICAL MUSIC AND JAZZ
Arcidosso, Mount Amiata in Tuscany
13 Jul – 8 Aug 2017
The beautiful medieval village of Arcidosso on Mount Amiata in Tuscany hosts this unique festival which combines classical music and jazz in its unique natural background. Concerts will take place in the village framed by its castle and old quarter alongside with master classes with internationally renowned music professors and students from all over the world.
STRESA FESTIVAL
Stresa 18 Jul- 8 Sep 2017
Stresa Festival opens its doors to the public continuing its tradition of excellent music, art and culure, held in a number of venues around Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta, Val d’Ossola on various dates.
PUCCINI FESTIVAL
Torre del Lago – 14 July – 19 August 2017
Torre del Lago hosts the Festival Puccini, created by Puccini himself, since 1930. The outdoor theatre, close to Villa Mausoleo where the Master’s remains lie, is an amazing setting to enjoy the music of one of the most outstanding and esteemed Italian artists worldwide. Operas on show in 2017 are: Madame Butterfly, Tosca, La Boheme and Turandot, La Rondine and Le Dernier Jour d’un Condamne’.
SFERISTERIO OPERA FESTIVAL
Macerata, 21 July –14 August 2017
This year the Festival will stage :Turandot, Madama Butterfly and Aida. The Opera Festival is hosted almost entirely in the magnificent theatre-shaped Sferisterio, unique in its architectural genre. Designed in 1823 by architect Ireneo Aleandri, it derives its name and its half-circumference shaped plan from the name of the game played inside: the “armband ball” or Pallone col bracciale.
SUMMER JAMBOREE
Senigallia, Marche
26 Jul- 6 Aug 2017
This music Festival is dedicated to the music and culture in America in the ’40s and ’50s with live concerts of dj set swing, rock’n’roll, jive, doo-wop, rhythm’n’blues, hill-billy e western swing .Stands will sell: juke box, hats, gadgets, guitars, vynils, CDs and other objects of that era. There will also be a ’40s and ’50s classic cars show.
ROSSINI OPERA FESTIVAL
Pesaro, 10-22 August 2017
This festival is dedicated to the music and operas of Goacchino Rossini, who was born in the Le Marche city of Pesaro. This year’s edition of the festival will put on show: La siege de Corinthe, La pietra del Paragone, Torvaldo e Dorilska, Il viaggio a Reims, Stabat Mater and various other concerts.
LA NOTTE DELLA TARANTA
Salento, Puglia
Month of August and 27 August 2017 in Melpignano
La Notte della Taranta is the most important music festival in Europe dedicated to traditional music, and it collects every summer over 200.000 spectators from all over the world. Born in 1998, as an initiative promoted by Grecìa Salentina (Union composed by 11 Municipalities close to Lecce where Greek origins still strongly exist), in order to the tradition of “tarantati”, the Festival has grown a lot these past years.
Every year the Festival arranges a set of itinerant concerts around the Municipalities of Grecìa Salentina (one per village) ending at Melpignano, the village where everything started 15 years ago, with the famous ”Concertone”.
MITO SETTEMBRE MUSICA
Turin and Milan
September 2017 – various locations (programme tbc)
This is a major festival developed from the thirty years experience of Settembre Musica which connects Turin and Milan, in a programme of refined and stirring concerts: the world’s best orchestras, baroque opera, medieval music, the great maestros of contemporary music and the music from the most distant places; jazz, open-air shows, night-time concerts…
To book your music & opera short break to Italy, contact us on 01543 258631 or e-mail us at vip@rbcollection.com
NB: INFORMATION CORRECT AT TIME OF PUBLICATION
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