The long-awaited Farnese Festival, an international festival of early music now in its fourth year, will take place in Parma from June 3 to 8, 2026. It will be hosted by the Teatro Farnese and other venues within the Pilotta Monumental Complex.
A prestigious festival focusing on the Italian and European musical repertoire of the 17th and 18th centuries, the Farnese Festival boasts the artistic direction of Fabio Biondi, violinist and founder and leader of the Europa Galante ensemble. The idea was conceived by Simone Verde, former director of the Pilotta Monumental Complex.
The initiative, sponsored by the Municipality of Parma, is promoted by the Pilotta Monumental Complex with the organizational collaboration of the Fondazione Teatro Due and benefits from the contribution of the main donor, the Fondazione Monteparma, and the support of Opem spa.
Program
June 3, 2026
8:00 PM | Farnese Theater
ORATORIO “SANTA CLOTILDE” (Parma 1733)
by Francesco Corselli (1705-1778)
Europa Galante
Fabio Biondi, violin and direction
Lucia Cortese, Clotilde
Giuseppina Bridelli, Clovis
Vivica Genaux, Saint Remigio
Luca Tittoto, Aureliano
City of Parma Choir
June 4, 2026
8:30 PM | Palatina Library
CONTRASTS
Spanish Songs of the Last Five Centuries alternating with classical flamenco pieces
Alicia Amo, soprano
Miriam Cantero, cantaora
Rodrigo Fernandez, guitar
Giangiacomo Pinardi, lute and baroque guitar
Cancionero de Uppsala (1556) Ay, luna que reluzes
Alonso Mudarra (1510-1580) Claros y frescos ríos
Cancionero de Turin (16th-17th centuries) Ay, amargas soledades (Lope de Vega)
José Marín (1618-1666) Ojos, pues me desdeñáis
Juan Arañés (1646) Dígame un requiebro
Juan Hidalgo (1614-1685)
Ay, que me río de amor
La noche tenebrosa
Esperar
Ay, que sí, ay, que no
Trompicábalas Amor
Manuel García Morante (1637) Durme, durme
Fernando Obradors (1866-1645) Del cabello más suti
Manuel de Falla (1876-1646) Nana
Federico García Lorca (1868-1636)
Tres morillas
Nana de Sevilla
Anda, jaleo
Zorongo gypsy
Milonga de la “Niña de la Puebla”
Alegrías
Saeta
Bulería “Maja Aristocrática” (de la “Niña de los Peines)
Tangos Extremeños
June 5, 2026
6:00 PM | Teatro Due
IL DIALOGO DEI CANI
From Novelle esemplari by Miguel de Cervantes
Adapted by Elisa Ciofini
Music by Mauro D’Alay (1687-1757)
Fabio Biondi, violin
Paola Poncet, harpsichord
With and by the Actors of the Teatro Due Ensemble Produced by Fondazione Teatro Due
8:30 PM | Farnese Theatre
TWO CENTURIES OF SPANISH MUSIC
MUSIca ALcheMIca
Lina Tur Bonet, violin and conductor
Bartolomé de Selma y Salaverde (1580-1640) Sonata Terza
Juan Bautista José Cabanilles (1644-1712) Gallardas de primer Tono
Andrea Falconiero (1585/6-1656)
Folías
La Soave Melodia e la sua Corrente
Battalla de Barabaso yerno de Zatanás
Gaspar Sanz (1640-1710) Canarios
Giovanni Pandolfi Meali (1624-1670) La Vinciolina
Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757)Sonata in re minore K.90
Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805) Quintetto n. 4 in re maggiore per due violini, viola, violoncello e chitarra G 448 “Fandango”
June 6, 2026
6:00 PM | Palatina Library
ENSALADAS MUSICALES
Moresche, Passagagli e Villancicos alla corte di Alessandro Farnese, IV Duca di Castro
Allabastrina
Elena Sartori, cantus, harpsichord, conducted
Mauro Collina, tenor
Mauro Cristelli, tenor solo
Nicolo’ Roda, c Tenor and bass
David Brutti, cornetto
Elena Bianchi, hauts and dulciana
Fabiano Merlante, lute, theorbo, and guitars
Flavio Spotti, historical percussion
From the Cancionero de Palacio (various authors, 16th-century anthology), popular and courtly polyphonies with 3 and 4 voices
Durandarte
Serrana
Una montanna pasando – Ave color vini × Sedano
La Medina
Badajoz
Muy triste vida
Madrid
Antonio de Cabezòn (1510-1566), Diferencias sobre la Gallarda Milanesa
Bernardo Storace (1537ca-1707ca) Passagaglio
Juan Bautista José Cabanilles (1644-1712), Juan Hidalgo (1614-1685), Diego Ortiz(1510ca-1570ca) Danze strumentali
8:30 PM | Farnese Theater
BACH, NON SEI SOLO!
Gli Incogniti
Amandine Beyer, violin and conductor
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Concerto in la maggiore per oboe d’amore, archi e basso continuo BWV 1055R
Johann Sebastian Bach Concerto in re minore per due violini, archi e basso continuo BWV 1043
Alessandro Marcello (1683-1747) Concerto in re minore per oboe, archi e basso continuo S.Z 799
Johann Sebastian Bach Concerto in re maggiore per tre violini, archi e basso continuo BWV 1064R
June 7, 2026
6:00 PM | Music Hall – Pilotta Monumental Complex
PARMIGIANI IN SPAGNA
La Compagnia de Violini
Paola Valentina Molinari, soprano
Alessandro Ciccolini, first violin
Domenico Scicchitano, Davide Medas, Matteo Carigi, Elia Torreggiani, violins
Francesca Camagni, viola
Giulia Gillio Gianetta, cello
Patxi Montero, violone
Francesco Baroni, harpsichord
Fortunato Chelleri (1660-1757)
Sinfonia dall’opera “L’innocenza difesa dai Numi” (1722)
Sinfonia dall’oratorio “Dio sul Sinai” (1731)
Introduzione e Fuga in sol minore per archi
Sinfonia in si bemolle maggiore
Mauro D’Alay (c. 1687–1757)
Concerto in re maggiore per violino, archi e basso continuo, op. 1n.5
Concerto in re minore per due violini, archi e basso continuo
Girolamo Sertori (c. 1662–1772)
Tre Arie da “Divertimenti Musicali per Camera” (Pamplona, 1758)
“Tortorella”
“A te do l’ultimo amplesso”
“Tu mi disprezzi ingrato” da Semiramide riconosciuta
8:30 PM | Farnese Theater
OLTRE ORFEO
Polifem Consort
Jordi Domènech, conductor
Furio Zanasi, baritone
Ferrán Albrich, baritone
Salomone Rossi (1570-1630) Sinfonia prima da “Il terzo libro de varie sonate…”
Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) “Rosa del ciel” e “Tu sei morta“ da L’ Orfeo (1607)
Salomone Rossi Sinfonia undecima e Duetto Apollo-Orfeo
Claudio Monteverdi “Interrotte speranze” e “O sia tranquillo”
Franceso Rasi (1574-1621) “Indarno Febo” e “Ahi, fuggitivo ben”
Salomone Rossi Sinfonia nona da “Il terzo libro de varie sonate…”
Claudio Monteverdi – Jordi Domènech Ricostruzione immaginaria del prologo de L’Arianna
Jacopo Peri(1561-1633) “Nel pur ardor” da L’Euridice (1600)
Marco da Gagliano(1582-1643) “Non curi la mia pianta” da La Dafne(1608)
Biagio Marini (1594-1663) La Bemba, Canzone a 2 da“Affetti musicali, op.1”
Sigismondo d’India (1582-1629) “Chi nutrisce” e “Alla guerra”
June 8, 2026
8:30 PM | Farnese Theater
SINFONIE DI LUIGI BOCCHERINI
Europa Galante
Fabio Biondi, violin and conductor
Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805) Sinfonia n. 4 in re minore, op. 12 G 506 “La casa del diavolo” Sinfonia Concertante in do maggiore G 523