Saturday, September 19, the evocative setting of Chiesa di Santa Marta will host the Italian Academy Chamber Orchestra, featuring solo pianist Noemi Cappi, conducted by Maestro Maurizio Colasanti.

The evening will present a captivating programme featuring three masterpieces by Fryderyk Chopin, Gioachino Rossini and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, taking the audience on a musical journey through different sensibilities, eras and styles.

The concert will open with Fryderyk Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2, one of the most romantic works in the repertoire, presented in its version for piano and string orchestra. This will be followed by Gioachino Rossini’s Sonata a quattro No. 1 in G major, while the programme will conclude with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s celebrated Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525.

At the piano will be Noemi Cappi, who began her musical training at the Istituto Civico Musicale di Dongo under the guidance of Maestro Maurizio Moretta. After obtaining her Level II piano certification at the Conservatory of Como, she continued her academic studies at the same institution, earning a degree in Piano Performance. Throughout her career, she has performed in numerous concerts and international piano competitions, receiving several second- and third-place awards. Alongside her performing career, she is also active in music education and teaches piano at the Istituto Civico Musicale di Dongo, where she has also served as Artistic Coordinator since 2023.

The orchestra will be conducted by Maurizio Colasanti, conductor, composer and university lecturer, whose international career has taken him to major concert halls and institutions around the world, from Carnegie Hall in New York to the Seoul Opera House, and from the Royal Academy of Music in London to the Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari. He is Professor of Orchestral Conducting at the “Claudio Monteverdi” Conservatory in Bolzano, and alongside his concert career he is deeply committed to music education and the promotion of musical culture.

The September 19 concert offers a new opportunity to experience classical music in an exceptionally evocative setting, reaffirming the Varenna Festival’s commitment to presenting high-quality events and celebrating the connection between music, culture and the local area.

Admission is free.

LOCATION

DATE AND OPENING TIME

20 September 2025 from 21:00 to 23:00

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Chiesa di S. Marta, Varenna Map

ADRESS

20 September 2025 from 21:00 to 23:00

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Chiesa di S. Marta, Varenna Map

VARENNA FESTIVAL VII Edizion – The Madness of the Red Priest

The 7th edition of the Varenna Festival continues with an evening dedicated to Antonio Vivaldi.

On Saturday, September 12th, at 9:00 p.m., in the beautiful setting of Santa Marta Church, the audience will have the opportunity to attend the concert “A. Vivaldi: The Madness of the Red Priest”, performed by the Vivaldiano Quartet, an ensemble with extensive experience on the Italian and international concert scene.

The performers will be:

Stefano Maffizzoni – flute
Riccardo Malfatto – violin
Claudia Cecchinato – cello
Lorella Ruffin – harpsichord

The programme is entirely dedicated to the great Venetian composer and includes the performance of Concerto in F major, RV 100, Concerto in D minor, RV 96, Trio in G minor, RV 103, Concerto in G minor, RV 106, and the famous “La Follia”, Sonata in D minor, Op. 1 No. 12, RV 63, featuring theme and variations.

The Vivaldiano Quartet is one of the most established ensembles on the Italian concert scene. Throughout its career, the group has performed for important institutions and festivals, including the Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, GOG in Genoa, Società dei Concerti di Milano, Unione Musicale di Torino, as well as numerous prestigious concert halls and theatres in Italy and abroad. The ensemble has also made recordings for major radio broadcasters and released CDs with prestigious record labels.

The concert will also provide an opportunity to explore the Paths of the Baroque, through the interpretation of the Vivaldiano Quartet, which explores its distinctive characteristics, styles and schools, with particular attention to historically informed performance practices and their evolution up to the present day.

Free admission.

LOCATION

12 September 2026 from 21:00 to 23:00

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Chiesa di S. Marta Map

DATE AND OPENING TIME

12 September 2026 from 21:00 to 23:00

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Chiesa di S. Marta Map

INDIRIZZO

12 September 2026 from 21:00 to 23:00

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Chiesa di S. Marta Map

BETWEEN LAKE AND MOUNTAINS: 39th MUSIC FESTIVAL – TWO WORLDS

The 39th “Between Lake and Mountains” Music Festival continues in Varenna.

Wednesday, September 9 at 9:15 PM, at Villa Cipressi, there will be a concert entitled “Two Worlds”.

A now traditional event within the Between Lake and Mountains Festival, this concert offers a fascinating and unique fusion of the sounds of the saxophone and guitar, featuring reinterpretations of lesser-known masterpieces from the classical tradition alongside 20th-century works, with particular attention to the international world of tango, nuevo flamenco, and the music of The Beatles.

JACOPO TADDEI – saxophone
ROBERTO PORRONI – guitar

“To Primarosa and Giuliano”

M. MUSORGSKY – The Old Castle
A. PIAZZOLLA – Nuevo Mundo
Los Pájaros Perdidos
Tzigane Tango
SVP
B. STROZZI – Che si può fare
D. M. PUJOL – Pompeya
F. SCHUBERT – Frühlingsglaube
Bagatelle Op. 13 No. 9 – The Bee
B. HERRMANN – Taxi Driver
R. DI MARINO – Tango I & II
V. AMIGO – Roma
R. PORRONI – For Two
J. SIBELIUS – The Spruce
LENNON/McCARTNEY – Yesterday
Eleanor Rigby

Free Admission

LOCATION

9 September 2026 from 21:15 to 23:00

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Villa Cipressi Map

DATE AND OPENING TIME

9 September 2026 from 21:15 to 23:00

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Villa Cipressi Map

INDIRIZZO

9 September 2026 from 21:15 to 23:00

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Villa Cipressi Map

Tuesday, September 1, starting at 2:00 PM, Piazza San Giorgio will host INTER FEST, an event dedicated to fun, sports and entertainment.

Throughout the afternoon, visitors can enjoy drinks, hot food, table football and inflatable games, offering something for everyone to enjoy.

The event will continue at 7:00 PM with dinner, followed at 9:00 PM by a lively DJ Set with DJ Gigi.

An event for all ages, combining music, great food and plenty of fun.

In case of  bad weather, the event will be postponed.

LOCATION

DATA E ORARIO

1 September 2026 from 14:00 to 23:00

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San Giorgio Square, Varenna Map

INDIRIZZO

1 September 2026 from 14:00 to 23:00

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San Giorgio Square, Varenna Map

MAX MANIA 883 TRIBUTE BAND – Varenna Festival VII Edition

The Varenna Festival continues with one of the most eagerly awaited events of its seventh edition. Thursday, August 27, at 9:15 p.m., the beautiful Piazza San Giorgio will provide the setting for an evening dedicated to the greatest hits of Max Pezzali and 883, thanks to a performance by the Max Mania 883 Tribute Band. Admission is free.

For years, among the most appreciated tribute bands on the national scene, Max Mania have won over Italian audiences with a show that faithfully recreates the atmosphere, sound and energy of Max Pezzali’s concerts. Season after season, the project continues to attract thousands of spectators in squares and venues throughout Italy.

Led by frontman Andrea, the band pays close attention to every musical and visual detail, creating a show capable of moving both those who experienced the golden years of 883 and the new generations who continue to sing along to their songs.

The concert will be a journey through the songs that have marked more than thirty years of Italian music: from Hanno ucciso l’Uomo Ragno to Sei un mito, from Come mai to Nord Sud Ovest Est, through to the great hits from Max Pezzali’s solo career. A repertoire that continues to bring together different generations, turning every concert into a great collective celebration.

Admission is free.

LOCATION

27 August 2026 from 21:15 to 23:00

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Piazza San Giorgio Map

DATE AND OPENING TIME

27 August 2026 from 21:15 to 23:00

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Piazza San Giorgio Map

INDIRIZZO

27 August 2026 from 21:15 to 23:00

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Piazza San Giorgio Map

DJ SET Freddi Barri – Varenna Festival VII Edition

In place of the OI&B Band – Zucchero Celebration concert, scheduled for Saturday, August 22, and cancelled due to personal reasons concerning the singer, the Varenna Festival presents:

DJ FREDDY BARRY: Experience, Professionalism and Music for Everyone

A professional in the field since 2011, Freddy Barry has turned a passion that began almost as a hobby, during his early experiences at Lido di Gera Lario, into a successful career in the world of musical entertainment.

Over the years, he has collaborated with numerous clubs, discos, beach resorts, bars, restaurants and accommodation facilities throughout Valtellina, Valchiavenna and the Lake Como area.

In 2016, he further developed his professional experience by working for two consecutive seasons at a holiday resort in Tuscany as a DJ and musical entertainer. This important experience allowed him to perform for an international audience and further develop his versatility and ability to engage the crowd.

Since 2018, Freddy Barry has specialised in musical entertainment for weddings, private events, corporate parties, public events and outdoor celebrations, distinguishing himself through his ability to create the right atmosphere and engage audiences with a dynamic and personalised musical selection.

With an average of around 50 events per year, Freddy Barry is now an established presence in the local entertainment scene, thanks to his professionalism, experience and ability to adapt his music selection in real time to the energy and tastes of the audience.

The event will therefore go ahead as scheduled on Saturday, August 22, in Piazza San Giorgio, Varenna, with DJ Freddy Barry.

We thank the public for their understanding and invite residents, visitors and tourists to join us for another enjoyable evening of music and entertainment in the stunning setting of Varenna.

Saturday, August 22, 2026 – 9:15 PM – Piazza San Giorgio, Varenna

LOCATION

22 August 2026 from 21:15 to 23:00

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Piazza San Giorgio Map

DATE AND OPENING TIME

22 August 2026 from 21:15 to 23:00

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Piazza San Giorgio Map

INDIRIZZO

22 August 2026 from 21:15 to 23:00

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Piazza San Giorgio Map

The event is cancelled!

Zucchero Celebration OI&B Band

Varenna Festival – 7th Edition

On Saturday, August 22, at 9:15 p.m., Piazza San Giorgio will host one of the most eagerly awaited events of the Varenna Festival 2026. The evening will feature OI&B – Zucchero Celebration Band, one of the most acclaimed and well-known Zucchero tribute bands in Europe.

The event is free admission and is part of the Varenna Festival – 7th Edition’s modern music programme. It is promoted by the Municipality of Varenna, with artistic direction by Maestro Maurizio Moretta.

More Than Twenty Years of Music Celebrating Zucchero

With more than twenty years of experience and thousands of concerts across Italy and Europe, OI&B (Oro Incenso & Birra) are considered a leading name on the international tribute scene dedicated to Zucchero Fornaciari.

The band delivers a show designed to recreate the sound and energy of the celebrated Italian singer-songwriter, exploring the blues, rock and soul influences that have defined his long career.

Leading the band on stage will be Christian Garbinato, a frontman renowned for his vocal and visual resemblance to Zucchero and for his ability to engage the audience from the very first moments of the show.

From “Baila” to “Diamante”: All the Greatest Hits

The concert will take the audience on a musical journey through some of Zucchero’s most iconic songs.

The setlist will include hits such as “Baila (Sexy Thing),” “Diavolo in me” and “Per colpa di chi?”, alongside more atmospheric and emotional songs such as “Diamante,” “Dune Mosse” and “Così Celeste.”

It will be a show designed to bring together different generations and turn the concert into a true celebration, blending blues, rock, soul and the unforgettable melodies that have made Zucchero one of Italy’s most internationally renowned artists.

The Concert in Piazza San Giorgio

The setting will make the evening even more memorable. Piazza San Giorgio, in the historic heart of Varenna and just steps from the shores of Lake Como, will provide a spectacular backdrop for the performance.

The combination of OI&B’s music and the enchanting scenery of this lakeside village promises to make the concert one of the highlights of the summer in Varenna.

The concert will take place on Saturday, August 22, at 9:15 p.m. in Piazza San Giorgio, Varenna. Admission is free.

LOCATION

22 August 2026 from 21:15 to 23:15

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Piazza San Giorgio Map

DATE AND OPENING TIME

22 August 2026 from 21:15 to 23:15

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Piazza San Giorgio Map

INDIRIZZO

22 August 2026 from 21:15 to 23:15

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Piazza San Giorgio Map

WAITING FOR FERRAGOSTO – DJ SET by Freddy Barri

Varenna Festival – 7th Edition

On Friday, August 14, the Varenna Festival, now in its 7th edition, renews one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the summer with the traditional “Waiting for Ferragosto” celebration.

Starting at 10:00 PM, the charming Piazza San Giorgio will provide the perfect setting for an evening of music, fun, and celebration, featuring a live DJ set by professional DJ Freddy Barri, who will entertain residents, tourists, and visitors of all ages with an engaging musical selection designed to keep everyone dancing throughout the night.

This special event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the arrival of Ferragosto together in one of the most enchanting locations on Lake Como, surrounded by the unique atmosphere of Varenna’s historic town centre.

Free admission.

LOCATION

from 14 August 2026, 22:00 to 15 August 2026, 01:00

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Piazza San Giorgio Map

DATE AND OPENING TIME

from 14 August 2026, 22:00 to 15 August 2026, 01:00

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Piazza San Giorgio Map

INDIRIZZO

from 14 August 2026, 22:00 to 15 August 2026, 01:00

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Piazza San Giorgio Map

THE THREE TENORS
Varenna Festival – 7th Edition

Tuesday, August 11, at 9:15 PM, the enchanting Piazza San Giorgio will be transformed into an open-air theatre for an evening dedicated to the great tradition of opera, featuring three internationally acclaimed tenors: Vitaliy Kovalchuk, Danilo Formaggia, and Giorgi Gelashvili.

“The Three Tenors” is one of the flagship events of the seventh edition of the Varenna Festival, the cultural program promoted and funded by the Municipality of Varenna to offer audiences outstanding artistic performances in one of the most breathtaking settings on Lake Como.

Accompanying the three soloists will be the Lake Como Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Juan Navarro Hernandez, an internationally renowned conductor whose distinguished career has taken him to leading theatres and concert halls across Europe, the United States, Egypt, and South Korea.

The programme will take the audience on an emotional journey through some of the most celebrated opera arias and the best-loved tenor repertoire, combining the timeless tradition of Italian bel canto with the powerful emotion of live performance. Three exceptional voices, a prestigious symphony orchestra, and the magnificent setting of Piazza San Giorgio will come together to create one of the highlights of the cultural summer on Lake Como.

THE ARTISTS

Vitaliy Kovalchuk

An internationally acclaimed tenor with extensive experience, distinguished by the breadth of his repertoire and his numerous collaborations with opera houses and festivals in Italy and abroad.

Danilo Formaggia

One of the most highly regarded Italian tenors of his generation, he has built a distinguished career performing in leading Italian and international theatres, earning particular acclaim for his interpretations of the Italian operatic repertoire.

Giorgi Gelashvili

A Georgian tenor who holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Opera Singing, Giorgi Gelashvili has developed an international career through opera productions and concerts. Based in Italy, he regularly collaborates with theatres, festivals, and musical institutions. His repertoire includes the principal lyric and lyric-spinto tenor roles, and he has performed throughout Europe and South America, gaining recognition for his vocal quality, stage presence, and artistic versatility.

Lake Como Philharmonic Orchestra

Founded in 2001, the Lake Como Philharmonic Orchestra is made up of highly accomplished musicians and is renowned for the versatility of its repertoire, which ranges from opera and symphonic music to operetta, film scores, and contemporary works.

Throughout its history, the orchestra has performed in major Italian theatres and on prestigious international tours across Europe, the Middle East, and China, collaborating with internationally renowned conductors, soloists, and artists. It has taken part in major opera productions, festivals, television broadcasts, and collaborations with the worlds of cinema, theatre, and contemporary music.

Among its most notable achievements are performances at San Siro Stadium and the Stadio Olimpico in Turin, participation in the Bellano Lirica Festival on Lake Como, concert tours in China (2023–2024), collaborations with Achille Lauro, and, since 2025, with the Andrea Bocelli Foundation.

Alongside its extensive concert activity, the orchestra is committed to music education through its Academy and produces both symphonic and chamber music performances, confirming its position as one of Italy’s most dynamic and highly regarded orchestras.

FREE ADMISSION

In case of bad weather: Centro Multifunzionale, Via Roma.

LOCATION

11 August 2026 from 21:15 to 23:00

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Piazza San Giorgio Map

DATE AND OPENING TIME

11 August 2026 from 21:15 to 23:00

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Piazza San Giorgio Map

INDIRIZZO

11 August 2026 from 21:15 to 23:00

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Piazza San Giorgio Map

BETWEEN LAKE AND MOUNTAINS: 39th Music Festival

The 39th Music Festival continues in Varenna with two new events dedicated to original and engaging musical journeys. The programme offers audiences two evenings of outstanding performances: a voyage through 20th-century American music with the Ensemble Duomo, and the elegance of the wind quintet repertoire performed by the WindQuintet.

2 August – Ensemble Duomo

Great American Music of the 20th Century

On Saturday, 2 August at 9:15 pm, the enchanting setting of Villa Cipressi will host the Ensemble Duomo in the concert Great American Music of the 20th Century.

The ensemble features Roberto Porroni (guitar), Letizia Spaggiari (flute), Yoko Morimyo (violin), Antonio Leofreddi (viola), Marcella Schiavelli (cello), and Gerardo Capaldo (percussion and typewriter), presenting a fascinating journey through some of the most celebrated works of 20th-century American music.

The programme brings together timeless melodies by George Gershwin, unforgettable film scores by Henry Mancini and James Horner, the famous Amapola by José Lacalle, music from The Wizard of Oz by Harold Arlen, and the remarkable Waltz by Erich Wolfgang Korngold, composed when the musician was still very young.

A particularly original highlight of the evening is dedicated to Leroy Anderson, featuring works such as The Syncopated Clock, Sleigh Ride, and above all The Typewriter, in which a typewriter becomes the star performer, transformed into a true musical instrument.

A concert rich in atmosphere and imagination, blending classical music, jazz, musical theatre, and cinema in an exciting journey through beloved melodies and surprising musical creativity.

5 August – WindQuintet

Women in Wind: From Classicism to Opera

The second concert will take place on Tuesday, 5 August at 9:15 pm at the Church of Santa Marta in Varenna.

The evening will feature the WindQuintet, composed of five accomplished young musicians: Michela Podera (flute), Mariapia Begna (oboe), Lucrezia Orlando (clarinet), Debora Maffeis (horn), and Monica Guerini (bassoon).

The ensemble will guide audiences through the rich repertoire for wind quintet, a chamber music formation renowned for its extraordinary variety of tone colours, capable of evoking the expressive palette of a full orchestra.

The programme spans different periods and styles, from the Classical elegance of Joseph Haydn to Johannes Brahms’ refined Variations on a Theme by Haydn, and Alexander Zemlinsky’s Humoreske. The evening is completed by celebrated operatic excerpts, including the Overture from Vincenzo Bellini’s Norma, the Sinfonia from Gioachino Rossini’s La cambiale di matrimonio, the moving Intermezzo from Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana, and the brilliant Carmen Suite by Georges Bizet.

This concert showcases the versatility of the wind quintet and its remarkable ability to convey the expressive richness of the symphonic, operatic, and chamber music repertoire through the artistry of five outstanding performers.

Two evenings, each with its own distinctive atmosphere and musical language, united by the excellence of their performers and the Festival’s commitment to offering audiences fresh, engaging, and inspiring musical experiences.

LOCATION

from 2 August 2026, 21:15 to 5 August 2026, 23:00

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Piazza San Giorgio Map

DATE AND OPENING TIME

from 2 August 2026, 21:15 to 5 August 2026, 23:00

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Piazza San Giorgio Map

INDIRIZZO

from 2 August 2026, 21:15 to 5 August 2026, 23:00

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Piazza San Giorgio Map