Festival's News
- 06 July 2009 - Festival della Valle d'Itria (Martina Franca) running from 16 July until 5 August
- 21 May 2009 - Festival della valle d'Itria (Martina Franca) announces programme 2009
Contact info
Address
Centro Artistico Musicale Paolo Grassi
Palazzo ducale
74015 Martina Franca
Italy
http://www.festivaldellavalleditria.it
Info
Tel: +39 080 4805100
Fax: +39 080 4805120
festivaldellavalleditria@tin.it
http://www.festivaldellavalleditria.it
Centro Artistico Musicale Paolo Grassi
Palazzo Ducale
IT-74015 Martina Franca
Administration
Tel: + 39 080-4805100
Fax: + 39 080-4805120
festivaldellavalleditria@tin.it
Festival della Valle d'Itria
Palazzo Ducale
I- 74015 Martina Franca
Press
Tel: + 39 0804800790
Fax: + 39 0804800483
stampa@festivaldellavalleditria.it
Festival della Valle d'Itria
A prominent festival which is devoted mainly to the great tradition of Italian and French opera, expecially some of their most forgotten masterpieces. Every period of the history of opera is concerned, but above all the opera of the 19th century belonging to the belcanto style. Besides the opera productions there are also concerts of vocal chamber music, lied sacred music and oratorio. Each concert or opera is a new production of the Festival every year.
This festival has been an EFA member since 1988.
Festival Programme
Each EFA member manages its own Calendar. In case there is no programme availabable for this year, please visit the festival's own website.
History
Martina Franca's Valle d'Itria Festival first took place in 1975 thanks to the support of Paolo Grassi, founder of the Piccolo Teatro of Milan, director of La Scala and president of Italy's RAI TV station who wanted to establish a music festival of an original kind in his city presenting Italian music drama composed in the belcanto of the 19th century. At the same time the Festival emphasizes the important history of European music and, moreover, the presence of Italian stylistic elements in French operas of 19th century.
The Festival's productions are performed according to authentic texts and interpretations (above all for the vocal parts), which are inspired in the most appropriate way in each case. In this way complete editions have been created, such as Tancredi, I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Fra Diavolo, I Puritani, Semiramide, II Pirata, l'Incoronazione di Poppea, Ernani and the first Ifigenia in Tauride by Traetta which have brought to light unknown aspects of these works, attracting the attention of Italian music lovers.
The Festival aims to promote the rediscovery and the revaluation of the operatic tradition and belcanto style of the eighteenth and 19th centuries and to present these in a stimulating cultural setting. Many of the Festival's productions have become known through recordings and television programs made by the RAI and foreign television. The Festival aims to reach regular opera audiences and the experts at the same time, through original cultural programs, performing famous works, less well-known aspects or rediscovering forgotten plays.
