While awaiting the special events featuring Stefano Bollani on February 19 and Evgeny Kissin on March 30 and 31, the new season will officially begin in April with Carteggi Musicali, an educational capsule blending words, readings, and music. Hosted at the Museum of Music from April 2 to 15, this three-part series will feature Fabio Sartorelli, Luca Ciammarughi, and Enzo Restagno.

On May 2, the heart of the season will be inaugurated with the Grandi Interpreti series at PalaDozza, where the legendary Berliner Philharmoniker—widely regarded as the pinnacle of symphonic excellence—will perform under the baton of another living icon of the international music scene, Riccardo Muti. This event marks a renewal of Muti’s relationship with the orchestra, which began 53 years ago when Herbert von Karajan first invited him to the podium. The program for this landmark evening reflects the two core facets of Muti’s musical identity: the Italian tradition, with works by Rossini and Verdi, and the German symphonic heritage, represented by Brahms.

Grandi Interpreti will continue on May 7 at its natural home, the Teatro Auditorium Manzoni, with an outstanding chamber duo: Sol Gabetta on cello and Bertrand Chamayou on piano, performing a distinctive program that ranges from Mendelssohn to the lesser-known Wolfgang Rihm and Jörg Widmann. Other highlights include the Cameristi della Scala joined by the exceptional pianist Angela Hewitt and hornist Emanuele Urso, followed by pianist Andrea Lucchesini interpreting Berio, Schumann, and Chopin. The renowned baroque ensemble Europa Galante, led by violinist Fabio Biondi, will also take the stage before the series returns to grand symphonic music on June 9 with the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Antonio Pappano and featuring violinist Lisa Batiashvili in a program of Richard Strauss, Mozart, and Berlioz. The series will then conclude in near Ringkomposition fashion on October 17 with the RAI National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kirill Petrenko, who has served as the Berliner Philharmoniker’s Music Director since 2019.

Meanwhile, on May 17, another of Bologna Festival’s musical streams will commence with the first of its Special Projects at the Church of Santa Cristina della Fondazza. To mark the bicentenary of Padre Stanislao Mattei’s death, Officina San Francesco Bologna will host a day of scholarly discussions and present the first complete modern performance of the second version of Oratorio della Passione, composed in 1792 to a libretto by Pietro Metastasio. Notably, the young Rossini himself sang in this version in 1806.

From June 3 to July 8, the open-air Talenti series will unfold in the stunning cloister of the Basilica of Santo Stefano, featuring six chamber music concerts dedicated to some of Europe’s brightest emerging musicians. The series follows in the footsteps of some of the most prestigious competitions, including this year’s Premio Trio di Trieste and Premio Venezia.

Finally, from September 18 to October 30, the series Il Nuovo, l’Antico, l’Altrove will present seven concerts at the Oratory of San Filippo Neri and the Church of Santa Cristina della Fondazza, dedicated to early music and contemporary experimentation. Highlights include a modern premiere by I Bassifondi Ensemble under Simone Vallerotonda, a newly commissioned work by the acclaimed Italian composer Daniela Terranova—whose music has been performed by institutions such as the London Sinfonietta and the BBC—and interdisciplinary projects that bridge music with other arts and genres. Among these are the theatrical concert “Pur Ti Miro”—Caravaggio & Monteverdi. Musica e Tableaux Vivants and “Il fiato che resta”—Musiche erranti e voci di esilio, an evening featuring Ars Vulgaris with a lineup enriched by traditional Middle Eastern instruments.

Meanwhile, work is in full swing on the much-anticipated Baby BoFe’ program, tailored for families, children, and schools.