VARENNA FESTIVAL – 6th Edition
September 27, 2025 – 9:00 PM | Church of Santa Marta, Varenna
Free Admission

The SEA QUARTET
Brings Varenna’s Summer of Music to a Close

As autumn arrives, the summer chapter of the 6th edition of the Varenna Festival draws to a close. The final concert of the season will take place on Saturday, September 27 at 9:00 PM, in the evocative setting of the Church of Santa Marta in Varenna. Admission is free.

The evening’s spotlight will be on the SEA QUARTET, a string ensemble founded in 2021 by violinist Riccardo Zamuner, who leads the group as first violin, alongside Alberto Marano, Martina Iaco, and Raffaele Rigliari.
The quartet brings together young talents trained at the most prestigious music academies in Italy and abroad.

Renowned for their versatility and original repertoire, the Sea Quartet presents a captivating musical journey across eras and genres: from Vivaldi, Mozart, and Beethoven, to chamber-style reinterpretations of Queen, Coldplay, Pino Daniele, and Mina, as well as iconic film scores by Ennio Morricone and timeless rock classics.
In 2023, the quartet released a major recording project in collaboration with prominent international jazz artists such as Flavio Boltro, Massimo Moriconi, and Emilia Zamuner, elegantly blending diverse musical languages.

Today, the ensemble is engaged in a vibrant concert schedule across Italy and internationally, receiving unanimous acclaim from both audiences and critics.

The Varenna concert will feature a program ranging from Vivaldi to Queen, wrapping up the musical season with a performance rich in quality, beauty, and emotion.

LOCATION

DATE AND OPENING TIME

27 September 2025 from 21:00 to 22:30

Scheduled Events Music News

Chiesa di S. Marta, Varenna Map

ADRESS

27 September 2025 from 21:00 to 22:30

Scheduled Events Music News

Chiesa di S. Marta, Varenna Map

PIANOFORTE IN FOUR HANDS

“PIANO DUO SCHIAVO – MARCHEGIANI”

The sixth edition of the Varenna Festival continues with a truly captivating event: on Saturday, September 20th, at 9:00 p.m, in the evocative Church of Santa Marta, the renowned piano duo Schiavo–Marchegiani will perform in a free-admission concert.

Known for their interpretative elegance and communicative energy, pianists Marco Schiavo and Sergio Marchegiani will present a brilliant program, full of colors and contrasts, ranging from the lively atmospheres of Gioachino Rossini to the popular, engaging rhythms of Antonín Dvořák, and the expressive depth of Johannes Brahms.

A unique opportunity to hear one of the most acclaimed Italian piano duos in a setting of remarkable architectural and acoustic beauty, as part of a festival that continues to bring high-quality music to the heart of Varenna.

program:

ROSSINI

(1792-1868)

Ouverture da “L’italiana in Algeri”

BRAHMS

(1833-1897)

9 Danze Ungheresi

1 in Sol minore: Allegro molto

2 in Re minore: Allegro non assai

4 in Fa minore: Poco sostenuto

6 in Re bemolle maggiore: Vivace

11 in Re minore: Poco andante

12 in Re minore: Presto

15 in Si bemolle maggiore: Allegretto grazioso

17 in Fa diesis minore: Andantino

5 in Fa diesis minore: Allegro

ROSSINI

(1792-1868)

Ouverture da “Il barbiere di Siviglia”

DVORAK

(1841-1904)

3 Danze Slave

72 n. 2 in Mi minore: Allegretto grazioso

72 n. 5 in Si bemolle minore: Poco adagio – Vivace

46 n. 1 in Do maggiore: Presto

ROSSINI

(1792-1868)

Ouverture da “La gazza ladra

LOCATION

DATE AND OPENING TIME

20 September 2025 from 21:00 to 23:00

Scheduled Events Music News

Chiesa di S. Marta, Varenna Map

ADRESS

20 September 2025 from 21:00 to 23:00

Scheduled Events Music News

Chiesa di S. Marta, Varenna Map

The Varenna Festival 2025 continues with another event of great originality and charm:

On Sunday, September 7th, at 9:00 PM, in the enchanting “Sala del Caminetto” of Villa Cipressi, the audience will enjoy a concert by the Trio de Gude—a one-of-a-kind ensemble featuring:
Lorenzo Ottaviani and Samuele Provenzi on guitars, and Ettore Marcolini on percussion.

The program, entitled “Fragments of the Twentieth Century”, offers a captivating journey through the “short century” of music, weaving together musical languages and cultures that seem worlds apart: from the Beatles to the hypnotic minimalism of Steve Reich, to the tango revolution of Astor Piazzolla.

A performance designed to bring audiences closer to twentieth-century music, rediscovering its vitality and creative potential through a fresh, dynamic, and refined interpretation. All this thanks to an ensemble with a truly original sound—surprising and fascinating at once.

Admission is free, subject to seating availability.

At 8:45 PM, just before the concert, the official ceremony will take place to confer the honorary title of “Ambassador of Varenna in the World” upon the renowned American journalist Rick Steves.

It was back in 1991. Varenna was then a small village on the Lecco branch of Lake Como, known more for its narrow alleys than as a tourist destination. Its quiet charm was appreciated almost exclusively by vacationers from Milan. Then came a fateful encounter destined to leave its mark. A young journalist from Seattle—Rick Steves, fascinated by Europe (the subject of his university thesis) and soon to become immensely famous in the United States and worldwide—spent the night at the Hotel Olivedo.

It was Steves himself, the now-celebrated travel writer and broadcaster, who first sensed the unique atmosphere that set Varenna apart from so many other beautiful Italian towns. So much so that, in the preface of one of his guides, he wrote: “Varenna is in my heart.”

Since then, he has always carried Varenna with him—through his books, television and radio programs, and lectures—presenting it to the world as a “place of the soul.” Today, this once-quiet village, now an internationally beloved destination, pays tribute to Rick Steves by awarding him the civic honor of “Ambassador of Varenna in the World.”

The recognition was approved by the City Council, chaired by Mayor Mauro Manzoni. The official resolution states:
“Steves has tirelessly directed his travelers to Varenna. His approach has always been to encourage tourism that seeks to immerse itself in the local spirit, to understand and share the way of life and traditions. His travelers are mostly couples who travel by train or bus, who love and respect the environment, and who search for that sense of beauty and authenticity that may be missing in larger tourist cities, however full of attractions and masterpieces they may be.

For these reasons, today we thank Rick for his invaluable work on behalf of Varenna and its region—not just for the number of visitors he has guided here, but above all for their quality: respectful, curious, and considerate people, the kind that no one else has ever been able, or willing, to direct to our little Varenna.”

LOCATION

DATA E ORARIO

7 September 2025 from 20:45 to 23:00

Scheduled Events Music News

Sala del Caminetto, Villa Cipressi Map

INDIRIZZO

7 September 2025 from 20:45 to 23:00

Scheduled Events Music News

Sala del Caminetto, Villa Cipressi Map

The sixth edition of the Varenna Festival continues with great enthusiasm, and on Wednesday, September 3,  at 9:15 PM in Piazza San Giorgio, it will host one of the most eagerly awaited events of the entire program: “MercuryLegend – QUEEN Experience”, a tribute show to the legendary British band.

Free admission

A unique opportunity to relive the energy of Queen live, in a 360° show that is thrilling, powerful, and capable of engaging audiences of all ages.

On stage, four highly experienced international musicians, who have already performed across Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovenia, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Croatia, and Austria. Their mission is not only to pay tribute to Queen and Freddie Mercury, but also to amaze the audience with an intense performance, crafted down to the smallest detail.

On vocals, Juri Saddi, one of the most acclaimed Freddie Mercury impersonators, who with his powerful voice and dazzling costumes will transport the audience into the heart of the legend. Alongside him are Federico Vetrò on guitar, awarded by Queen Italia as the best Brian May emulator, Daniel “Taylor” Ghilardi on drums, and Christian Comizzoli on bass.

An unmissable evening to celebrate great rock music in one of the most charming squares on Lake Como.

LOCATION

DATA E ORARIO

3 September 2025 from 21:15 to 23:00

Scheduled Events Music News

Piazza San Giorgio, Varenna Map

INDIRIZZO

3 September 2025 from 21:15 to 23:00

Scheduled Events Music News

Piazza San Giorgio, Varenna Map

On 26th August from 7 pm in Piazza San Giorgio will be held the party of the Inter Club with tradicional dishes and DJ SET by Dj Giona.

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

LOCATION

DATA E ORARIO

26 August 2025 from 19:00 to 22:30

Scheduled Events Music News

San Giorgio Square, Varenna Map

INDIRIZZO

26 August 2025 from 19:00 to 22:30

Scheduled Events Music News

San Giorgio Square, Varenna Map

On August 14th from 10:00 PM, Piazza San Giorgio comes alive, and as per tradition, there will be singing and dancing

WAITING FOR FERRAGOSTO with GIORGINO DJ

 Joined by Roby’s DJ, Max Kingart DJ

FREE ENTRY

(In case of bad weather, the event will be canceled)

LOCATION

DATA E ORARIO

14 August 2025 from 22:00 to 23:55

Scheduled Events Music News

San Giorgio Square, Varenna Map

INDIRIZZO

14 August 2025 from 22:00 to 23:55

Scheduled Events Music News

San Giorgio Square, Varenna Map

On Tuesday 12th August from 7.30 p.m. in Pino neighborhood you can eat pizzoccheri, typical regional food with Alice’s DJ set.

LOCATION

DATE AND OPENING TIME

12 August 2025 from 19:30 to 22:30

Scheduled Events News

Piazzale di Pino Map

ADRESS

12 August 2025 from 19:30 to 22:30

Scheduled Events News

Piazzale di Pino Map

LOCATION

DATE AND OPENING TIME

6 August 2025 from 21:15 to 22:30

Scheduled Events Music News

Church of Santa Marta Map

ADDRESS

6 August 2025 from 21:15 to 22:30

Scheduled Events Music News

Church of Santa Marta Map

LOCATION

Villa Cipressi

DATE AND OPENING TIME

5 August 2025 from 21:15 to 23:00

Scheduled Events Music News

Villa Cipressi Map

ADDRESS

5 August 2025 from 21:15 to 23:00

Scheduled Events Music News

Villa Cipressi Map