From north to south, the must-see events of the summer

In the Italian summer, perhaps 'young and handsome' (as Arbasino wrote), one could be guided by the compass of Musica con Vista, a festival of open-air chamber music in the most evocative locations. A musical journey of 36 concerts in the gardens, cloisters and courtyards of historic residences and palaces, an integral part of the identity and cultural heritage of our country; such as Villa Panza, in Varese, which on 19 July hosts the Trio Hermes. The Festival wants to support the new generation of young talents and at the same time enhance the cultural heritage, while creating a widespread tourist activity, offering activities not only related to music. A slow, passionate and curious tourism, bringing a heterogeneous public closer to the discovery of a hidden Italy.

Villa e Collezione Panza. (© FAI)

From villa to villa, we land at the Roman Terme di Caracalla where on 17 July a director such as Damiano Michieletto will devote himself to a masterpiece like West Side Story, signed by Bernstein-Sondheim-Robbins-Laurents. The musical 'celebrates the power of rhythm, vitality and youth and I would like to be able to bring this extraordinary charge of adrenalin to the audience' (Michieletto). It should be noted that on the podium will be the musical director of the Rome Opera, Michele Mariotti, with the theatre orchestra.

Terme di Caracalla. (© Fabrizio Sansoni)

From musicals to jazz, the step is short, as from Rome to Perugia where until 20 July the 52nd edition of Umbria Jazz takes place, starting at noon with marching bands and ending late at night in jazz clubs. Among the many appointments are Dianne Reeves, Gregory Porter, Lionel Richie, Jacob Collier, Stefano Bollani with a new quintet, Kamasi Washington.

Umbria Jazz

Instead, we go from Rome to Salento for Classiche Forme, until 20 July. The baroque of Lecce with its range of colours from white to golden, the farms dotted with the green-grey of the olive trees and the brown of the soil, the deep blue of the Salento sea: conducted by one of the greatest pianists, the young and Salento-born Beatrice Rana, whom we can hear in chamber concerts with original and sophisticated layouts and performers chosen by her, in exceptional venues.

Classiche Forme Festival Internazionale di Musica da Camera. (©Flavio Ianniello)

From Salento in July to the Dolomites at the end of August: these are the Sounds of the Dolomites: 'listen, Dolomites, sounds, open spaces, silence, light, high lands, walking, commitment, sharing, respect, accessibility, tradition': these are the points of the Manifesto of the festival now in its 30th edition, from 27 August to 4 October in the mountains of Trentino. Music on the move among the peaks, more than a month of concerts in spaces reached on foot by the public in the company of musicians, listening to world music, classical music, songwriting, jazz, encounters between music and literature. Among the many appointments, we would like to mention a 'classic' of the festival, namely the trek: three days of sounds and words, from 12 to 14 September in the Brenta Dolomites, with cellist Mario Brunello and the Quartetto Prometeo.