Art Exhibitions And Events In Italy 2009
This one’s for all those culture vultures out there. We’ve trawled the tourist boards and internet to provide you a comprehensive list of events happening in Italy this Summer, Autumn and Winter 2009. There’s something here for everyone including exhibitions, music events, sport, folklore and historical celebrations and much more
Read all about the events and exhibitions below and click on the links to find out more.
ARTS
MONA HATOUM INTERIOR LANDSCAPE, in Venice
04/06/2009 – 20/09/2009
http://www.querinistampalia.it
On display twenty-five new works by the English-Palestinian artist, some created specially for the spaces of the Fondazione Querini Stampalia. The works exhibited investigate the condition of uncertainty, loss and conflict experienced by immigrants, symbolically represented by everyday objects transformed into unknown and mysterious sculptures. In Hatoum’s works, domestic space is transformed, to destabilize the individual as proof of his sense of painful alienation.
PASQUALINO ROSSI-THE DISCOVERY OF ONE OF BAROQUE’S PROTAGONISTS, in Serra San Quirico, Ancona, Marche
01/03/2009 – 13/09/2009
http://www.pasqualinorossi.info
This exhibition rediscovers one of the protagonists of Italian Baroque who, although highly regarded by patrons of his time, was deleted from official art history while many of his works were later attributed to other popular artists. At the core of this exhibition are the works created by Rossi to decorate the apse of the Church of Santa Lucia. Also on display a comparison of additional paintings by Rossi as well as works by other masters of the XVII and XVIII centuries.
IL NUOVO DOPO LA MACCHIA, in Montecatini Terme, Tuscany
16/06/2009 – 18/01/2010
http://www.macchiaioli-montecatini.com
This interesting exhibit displays works by the founders of the Naturalism movement in Tuscany, famous in the middle of the XX century. Born to transcend the impositions set by the Macchiaioli, the movement brought together Tuscan artists who adopted a new approach in the exploration and analysis of nature, sunlight and the environment of contemporary society.
IN-FINITUM, in Venice
06/06/2009 – 15/11/2009
http://www.museiciviciveneziani.it
In-Finitum presents works by several artists, who, during their career, questioned the theme of infinity interpreting it according to concepts and representations typical of their different cultures. On display arts, science and philosophy showed as a spiritual journey on the quest for knowledge of infinity – the ultimate container of everything – as well as its opposite, absolute vacuum. From Canova to Cezanne, to Mirò and Miyajima, Picasso and Burri, the exhibition presents the works of many artists from all periods and continents
FESTIVALS AND PERFORMING ARTS EVENTS
MALBORGHETTO FESTIVAL in Rome and Riano
16/07/2009 – 29/08/2009
http://www.malborghettoromafestival.com
In the month of July, the Malborghetto Archaeological Park is home to a festival that offers theatrical performances as well as educational guided tours of the site for the public. The Malborghetto Archaeological Park is a unique organization, which preserves the remains of a Roman triumphal arch erected in the IV century AD and incorporated during the Middle Ages in a farmhouse surrounded by a hamlet. The season ends with two special nights in the Riano’s tuff caves.
BAROQUE FESTIVAL, in Viterbo, Lazio
07/08/2009 – 09/10/2009
http://www.provincia.vt.it/barocco/default.asp
The Baroque Festival is one of the most important events in the Italian and international music scene. The festival favours interpretations on original instruments in full accordance with philological executions, while accepting modern tools. The festival takes place on some of the city’s most charming natural stages.
WOMEN’S FICTION FESTIVAL, in Matera, Basilicata
24/09/2009 – 27/09/2009
http://www.womensfictionfestival.com
In its format, the Women’s Fiction Festival is the only festival in Europe entirely devoted to women’s fiction. The theme of the 2009 edition is “The trade of writing, literature as voice of the world”. The exhibition includes an international conference for writers, master classes lead by great writers, events for the public, happy hour, literary award ceremonies and much more.
ROSSINI OPERA FESTIVAL, in Pesaro
09/08/2009 – 20/08/2009
http://www.rossinioperafestival.it
The 2009 edition of the traditional musical event linked to the city and the cultural and artistic heritage left by Rossini marks the festival’s 30th anniversary. The season starts with Zelmira, presented to the public for the first time at the San Carlo in Naples in 1822. This event is credited with making popular the entire production of Maestro Rossini in Italy and abroad.
VILLA CELIMONTANA JAZZ FESTIVAL, in Rome
18/06/2009 – 20/09/2009
http://www.villacelimontanajazz.com
In its 16th edition, Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival, held in the gardens of one of the most beautiful Roman villas, renews its cultural journey in the world of jazz and beyond. Besides the presence of artists of international fame, after midnight the “after festival” begins, entitled this year “Young Titans.” With the aim to mix different arts, the event will also host the exhibition “W the Musical.” Photo exhibitions, screenings, debates and books add to the rich program of events.
VERDI FESTIVAL, in Parma
01/10/2009 – 28/10/2009
http://www.teatroregioparma.org
As tradition dictates, Parma celebrates Maestro Verdi’s birthday with a rich calendar of cultural and music events. The days vibrate with music, opera, conferences and readings from the masterpieces of literature, which inspired the opera libretti, exhibitions and art installations all take place in the city and its splendid surroundings known as The Land of Verdi.
2866 STRESA FESTIVAL
01/08/2009 – 05/09/2009
http://www.stresafestival.eu
The Stresa Festival is back on August 1st with “Le Meditazioni in Musica – Musical Meditations”, performances of ancient music in the splendid Santa Caterina del Sasso Hermitage and in the Churches of Lake Maggiore running through August 9th. The Settimane Musicali di Stresa e del Lago Maggiore end with “Incontri e Dialoghi – Meetings and Dialogues”, 15 concerts of chamber and symphonic music with soloists, orchestras and operas held in beautiful settings around Lake Maggiore all the way to the Castello Visconteo in Vogogna from August 21st to September 5th
BIENNALE CINEMA , in Venice
02/09/2009 – 12/09/2009
http://www.labiennale.org
Once again the Mostra Internazionale del Cinema of Venice is focusing on Italian film production with an enquiring glance at the more unusual pieces of arts cinema with the aim to detail its richness and eccentricity. “Questi fantasmi 2: cinema italiano ritrovato” is a fascinating retrospective of thirty works produced between the ’40s and the ’80s.
FESTIVAL DELLE NAZIONI, in Citta’ di Castello, Umbria
26/08/2009 – 05/09/2009
http://www.festivalnazioni.com
The 42nd edition of the Festival delle Nazioni pays homage to Great Britain. From the Renaissance to the present, Great Britain has included in its music tradition musical experiences from all over the world and it remains one of the countries that highly values music in the education of its citizens. This year the program offers several shows in some of the most important spots of the High Tiber Valley.
MERANO FESTIVAL
20/08/2009 – 24/09/2009
http://www.meranofestival.com
Settimane Musicali Meranesi is the most important symphonic musical Festival in Italy. The program usually spans over three concert cycles and it includes the cross-over event “Colours of music” dedicated to jazz and ethnic music. Concert locations include Bolzano, the Duomo in Merano and Castel Tirolo. The night concert in the splendid Kursaal hall is, as usual, the highlight of the Festival.
MITO SETTEMBRE MUSICA, Turin and Milan
03/09/2009 – 24/09/2009
http://www.mitosettembremusica.it
Over the years, the Mito Settembre Musica Festival has acquired international fame. Held in Milan and Turin – as well as many additional smaller towns – the Festival features more than 200 events nearly 24 hours a day – more than half accessible free of charge: from contemporary music and baroque to ethnic contaminations.
SAGRA MUSICALE UMBRA – UMBRIA MUSIC FESTIVAL, in Perugia
12/09/2009 – 25/09/2009
http://www.perugiamusicaclassica.com
Historic festival of sacred and XX century music, the Sagra Musicale Umbra is one of Umbria’s most important cultural events taking place in Perugia and additional towns in the Region
NEW INITIATIVES
MILANOCARD
http://www.milanocard.it
MilanoCard is the first tourist card of the city of Milan that guides travellers in a journey of discovery by offering free public transportation and discounts at museums, monuments, restaurants, spas, shops, bike rental, car rental, Malpensa Express, tours. The card extends beyond city boundaries to Lake Como and Genoa.
Available online at www.milanocard.it and in 50 outlets in Milan, the card costs € 10 and is valid for 72 hours.
FOLKLORE AND HISTORICAL CELEBRATIONS
LA MACCHINA DI SANTA ROSA, in Viterbo, Lazio
03/09/2009 – 03/09/2009
http://www.macchinadisantarosa.viterbo.it
Every year Viterbo celebrates Santa Rosa, its patron saint. The main event and pride of the city is the Trasporto (Transport) in which 100 porters parade the Machine – a construction assembled over the course of a few weeks before the celebration that reaches 28 meters in height and weighs over 1000 pounds – through the small streets of the historic centre and hoist it up a steep hill to the Monastery of San Damiano dedicated to Santa Rosa.
HISTORICAL REGATTA, in Venice
06/09/2009 – 06/09/2009
http://www.comune.venezia.it
Every year in September the Grand Canal is the stage of the Historical Regatta, one of Venice’s most famous and anticipated events. The Regatta starts with a parade of XVI century boats, followed by competitions on different types of Venetian boats: gondolas, gondolini, caorlini and even a women’s regatta on mascarete and a youth regatta on pupparini.
GIOSTRA DELLA QUINTANA in Foligno, Umbria
http://www.quintana.it
A Renaissance joust in which knights from rivaling districts, riding on their own galloping horse, try to catch a series of rings (which gradually become smaller and smaller) hanging from a wooden statue called “Quintana”. Knights and horses go through a yearlong preparation and costumes take months to be completed for the Historic Parade that takes place leading up to the competition. The “Campo de li giochi” comes to life for this emotional event in June and September.