EFAcast - Festival della Valle d'Itria

In this fourth episode, Simon Mundy meets Alberto Triolla, the Artistic Director of Festival della Valle d'Itria in Martina Franca, Italy. This music festival, dedicated to the revival of forgotten musical repertoires, will run from 17 July till 5 August 2021.


“Fiat lux” is the title of the 47th edition of the Festival della Valle d’Itria, which will take place from the 17th July to the 5th August in Martina Franca: 20 days of shows lighting the stages of the Palazzo Ducale, of the Chiostro di San Domenico, and the ancient country estates of the Valley – in complete observance of anti-Covid protocols. Great names from the world of opera will perform rare works: operas, oratorios, recitals, and symphonic concerts. The programme was created by artistic director Alberto Triola and music director Fabio Luisi, approved by the Fondazione Paolo Grassi, the promoting body of the Festival, led by Franco Punzi.

"The programme – says Alberto Triola – sketches a clear historical and cultural itinerary starting from the Neapolitan Baroque of Alessandro Scarlatti and Nicola Porpora, passing through Haydn’s Viennese Classicism, and finally reaching Schubert. But the proposed works open up to interpretations, to connections and references to today’s human and social conditions, starting from the most obvious example: “Fiat lux” is a new beginning, stemming from the pressing need for an authentic re-creation of the world. This implies the failure, sinking, and abandonment of things as they have stood so far, which suddenly appear hopelessly old, or tragically show our inadequacy."

Check out the full programme of operas, concerts and presentations/meetings.