European festivals Association

Festival della Valle d'Itria in Martina Franca was founded in 1975. Right from the start the main characteristic of the festival was the revival of undervalued musical repertoires, particularly the belcanto repertoire – from Monteverdi to proto-Romanticism – and the tradition of the Neapolitan music school, whose major protagonists were composers from Apulia. Productions are known for the authenticity of the texts (often performed full length) and the faithfulness to the original vocal types.