Stresa Festival - A Summer of Concerts

Whilst I don't normally blog about events here, I thought the Stresa Festival deserved a special mention as it is an major part of the summer events programme and it is only a week away. The festival dates back to 1961 when it was known as the Settimane Musicali di Stresa, and the first concert was held in August 1962. Since then many famous performers, conductors and orchestras have performed at the the festival: Arthur Rubinstein, Yehudi Menuhin, Karl Böhm and the London Philharmonic Orchestra to name just a few.

We've been to several concerts over the years in some wonderful locations, but three that stick in my mind are the Goran Bregovic & Wedding and Funeral Band in 2010 (I've never seen the Congress Palace jumping like that!), the Full Fathom Four at the old church in Belgirate and Sarah Chang performing at the Stresa Congress Palace, both in 2007.

**updated July 2014**

For 2014 the concerts are, as ever, split into three sections. In ten days time from 24th - 27th July there are six open-air concerts under the title "Midsummer Jazz", then from 19th August to 6th September there is the main festival with concerts in the "Music on Move" and "Musical Meditations" sections. This year on 22nd August the Stresa Festival celebrates with their 1000th concert featuring conductor, Gianandrea Noseda, artistic director of the festival.

So why not come along and enjoy concerts in the Villa Palazzola park along Stresa lakefront (outdoors), at the Santa Caterina Herimtage, on the Borromean Islands, the old church in Belgirate or at the grand theatre in the Stresa Conference Centre.

For the full programme, ticket prices and official online box office go to the Stresa Festival website. Tickets range between €15 and €50.

Let us know your favourite moments from past festivals or whether you've already booked for this year.

Sarah, Viaggi Tomassucci