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MUSIC FESTIVALS IN JULY 2012

Main entrance of the Petra Winery designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta
Petra Winery by Mario Botta - one of the venues of the Melodia del Vino Festival

Waiting for Montalcino's Jazz & Wine 2012? Nope, the program isn't out yet - Banfi obviously likes suspense. All we know so far is that it's going to happen in the second half of July, so book your room anyway. Nevertheless there are good news on Southern Tuscany's festival front. Three prestigious classical music festivals have already presented their rich program for the summer 2012. 

AMIATA PIANO FESTIVAL - three cycles of classical music in July, August and at the beginning of September. 
The jazz lover in you will rejoice, as one of the concerts in Collemassari's stunning wine cellar is going to host wonderful Italian jazz pianist Danilo Rea, who will play a tribute to Fabrizio de André.
Poggi del Sasso/Montecucco near Cinigiano (half an hour from Montalcino and Grosseto): Baccus July 19 - 22, Euterpe August 2 - 5, Dionisus August 30 - September 2


MELODIA DEL VINO combines wine, classical music plus the best of contemporary architecture. The concerts will take place in a refined selection of Southern Tuscany's wineries all of them in beautiful locations and some of them (Petra and Rocca di Frassinello) with wine cellars designed by some of the world's most famous architects. 
Six evenings in various Tuscan wineries from June 26 to July 7. 


The MUSICA REALE festival uses Montalcino's jewel of a theater as main stage for a selection of musicians of Amsterdam's famous Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra who will present chamber music at its best. And don't worry, being in Montalcino you'll obviously get a glass of wine with this festival too. 
Montalcino and Villa di Geggiano from July 12 to18. 


Last but not least the OPERA FESTIVAL at San Galgano abbey. The festival at the stunning abbey starts of with Verdi's stratospheric Aida (July 7 and August 3 and 4) and continues with Carl Orff's Carmina Burana (July 13 and August 5). Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake interpreted by Saint Petersburg's ballet and Rossini's Barbiere di Siviglia are some more highlights of the 2012 edition.  


San Galgano abbey's roofless church
San Galgano abbey
Jazz, pop and classical music under the stars 


This year the open-air stage at the roof-less San Galgano church will also be host to some of Italy's best in contemporary pop and jazz music. Trumpet player Paolo Fresu is one of the biggest names in Italian jazz and Arisa and Vinicio Capossela have found wonderful ways to blend Italian pop music with other genres (jazz and Italian and Greek folk music). 
San Galgano Abbey, from July 7 to August 5. 



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