music
Opera – Classical
Settimane Musicali di Stresa
Various locations
from 01.08.2008 to 06.09.2008
The 47th edition of the Settimane Musicali di Stresa e del Lago Maggiore (Musical Weeks at Stresa and Lago Maggiore) is subdivided into two chapters: Meditazioni in musica (Meditation in Music) (August 1-10) and ‘900: luci e ombre (20th century: Lights and Shadows) (August 23 – September 6). As always, the Meditations propose music composed between the Renaissance and Baroque periods, with an interesting focus on Bach. This year’s theme, ‘900: luci e ombre, will be putting emphasis on the stylistic contrasts of music composed in the last century, a mirror of the contradictions belonging to a divided and tormented society. Opening the event is a comparison between Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony and Shostakovich’s Fourteenth Symphony. The Musical Weeks continue with music ranging from Mahler, Stravinsky, Mendelssohn, Sibelius, Prokofiev and many other masters, interpreted by distinguished musicians, ensembles and conductors such as the Orchestra del Festival conducted by Gianandrea Noseda, the Filarmonica della Scala conducted by Myung-Whun Chung, the BIT20 Ensemble and so forth. The evocative stages for these concerts further enhance the value of this international Festival: The Eremo (hermitage) of Santa Caterina del Sasso, all three of the Borromee islands, the island of San Giulio on Lago d’Orta, the Rocca Borromeo (Borromeo Fortress) at Angera, the Esedra (outdoor meeting place) at the Villa San Remigio in Verbania, Villa Ponti in Arona, Villa Pallavicino in Stresa, il Sacro Monte della SS. Trinità (Sacred Mount of the Holy Trinity) di Ghiffa and the Piroscafo (Steamship) Piemonte.
