BolognaFestival 2025
44th Season from April 2

From April to October, eight major concert series will bring music to every corner of Bologna, from museums to churches, from traditional venues to breweries, spanning from early music to folk influences. The festival will feature young talents selected directly by the event itself alongside top-tier international artists, culminating in an exceptional symphonic program led by the Berliner Philharmoniker with Riccardo Muti, the London Symphony Orchestra with Antonio Pappano, the RAI National Symphony Orchestra with Kirill Petrenko, and the Rossini Symphony Orchestra with Enrico Lombardi.

A musical institution deeply intertwined with Bologna’s cultural identity, Bologna Festival is an almost entirely female-led organization, firmly steered by Maddalena da Lisca, a long-standing and active member of the association. Over the years, it has been a hub of relentless creativity, pioneering innovative projects ranging from large-scale events in the city’s main squares to unique performances in breweries. Once again, Bologna Festival confirms its distinctive stylistic hallmark in promoting the great classical repertoire, featuring world-class orchestras and top-tier chamber musicians such as Sol Gabetta, Angela Hewitt, and Lisa Batiashvili.

Before the main season, two special events will take place: on February 19 with Stefano Bollani and on March 30–31 with Evgeny Kissin. The new season will officially commence in April with Carteggi Musicali, the first educational capsule blending words, readings, and music at the Museum of Music. This series, running from April 2 to 15, will feature Fabio Sartorelli, Luca Ciammarughi, and Enzo Restagno.

The festival’s core program will launch on May 2 with the Grandi Interpreti series at PalaDozza, where the world-renowned Berliner Philharmoniker will be conducted by another living legend of classical music, Riccardo Muti. This marks the continuation of a 53-year relationship that began when Herbert von Karajan first invited Muti to lead the celebrated orchestra. The event’s program will highlight Muti’s dual musical heritage, featuring Italian composers Rossini and Verdi alongside German master Brahms. Sponsored by Illumia, all proceeds from this event will be donated to charitable organizations: ANT, Fondazione Policlinico Sant’Orsola, and Associazione La Mongolfiera odv.

Grandi Interpreti will continue on May 7 at Teatro Auditorium Manzoni, its traditional venue, with an exceptional chamber duo—cellist Sol Gabetta and pianist Bertrand Chamayou—performing a unique program from Mendelssohn to lesser-known works by Wolfgang Rihm and Jörg Widmann. The series will also feature the Cameristi della Scala with pianist Angela Hewitt and hornist Emanuele Urso, followed by pianist Andrea Lucchesini performing Berio, Schumann, and Chopin. The acclaimed baroque ensemble Europa Galante, led by Fabio Biondi, will also make an appearance. The symphonic excellence will return 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 conclude on October 17 with a nearly Ringkomposition-like finale featuring the RAI National Symphony Orchestra, led by Kirill Petrenko, who has been the Berliner Philharmoniker’s Music Director since 2019.

On May 17, Bologna Festival will launch another of its signature programs, Special Projects, at the Church of Santa Cristina della Fondazza. In celebration of the bicentenary of Padre Stanislao Mattei’s death, Officina San Francesco Bologna will present a study day and the first complete revival of the second version of Oratorio della Passione (1792), featuring the young Gioachino Rossini, who performed in the 1806 rendition.

From June 3 to July 8, the open-air series Talenti will take place in the stunning cloister of the Basilica of Santo Stefano. This six-concert chamber music series will spotlight Europe’s most promising young musicians, drawing from prestigious competitions such as the Trio di Trieste Prize and the Premio Venezia.

Finally, from September 18 to October 30, the festival will present Il Nuovo, l’Antico, l’Altrove, a seven-concert series held at the Oratorio di San Filippo Neri and the Church of Santa Cristina della Fondazza. This program will celebrate early music, including a modern premiere by I Bassifondi Ensemble led by Simone Vallerotonda, contemporary compositions—such as a new Bologna Festival and Ferrara Musica commission for acclaimed Italian composer Daniela Terranova—and experimental cross-disciplinary performances. Highlights include the theatrical concert Pur Ti Miro: Caravaggio & Monteverdi—Music and Tableaux Vivants and Il fiato che resta: Wandering Music and Voices of Exile by ensemble Ars Vulgaris, incorporating traditional Middle Eastern instruments.

Meanwhile, preparations are in full swing for Baby BoFe’, the festival’s educational program for families, children, and schools. Additionally, the selection process is underway for Classica in Sneakers at the Birreria Popolare, a groundbreaking initiative that blends classical music with a casual, inclusive atmosphere. With 48 young musicians applying this year, the program continues to thrive as a unique bridge between classical repertoire and general audiences, supported by Gruppo Hera and Lavoropiù.

Maddalena da Lisca, the festival’s Superintendent and Artistic Director, shares her vision: “Each year, we take on the challenge of filling our city with high-quality music, collaborating with public and private institutions alike, and promoting the repertoire we love. It’s a relentless effort, but we are driven by the ethical conviction that there is never enough beauty and art accessible to all, to enrich our lives and our community. I extend my heartfelt thanks to all our supporters who share our passion and, above all, our belief in the necessity of this work.”

SUPPORTERS

Bologna Festival 2025 is made possible with contributions from the Ministry of Culture, the Emilia-Romagna Region, and the Municipality of Bologna. Main partners: Alfasigma, Illumia. Gold patrons: BCC EmilBanca, G.D (a Coesia company), Marposs, Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna. Silver patrons: Valsoia, BPER Banca, Assintel, Confindustria Emilia Area Centro, Galotti, Fondazione Banco S. Geminiano e S. Prospero, Confcommercio Ascom Bologna, Maria Luisa Vaccari. Sponsors: Aretè Cocchi Technology, Coop Alleanza 3.0, Gruppo Hera, Lavoropiù, Unicredit, Stefanelli-Automotive, Pir Group, Mecenati, Benemeriti, Supporters, and Friends of Bologna Festival. Technical partners: Alternative Group, Isolani Meeting. Media partners: RAI Radio3, Giornale della Musica, ERCreativa.

MAIN PARTNERS

“Once again in 2025, Alfasigma renews its commitment to Bologna Festival, aiming to bring more people closer to the beauty of music, theater, and art. The company not only fosters scientific culture, which lies at the heart of its business, but also embraces all cultural forms essential to the sustainable growth and development of the communities in which it operates.” — Silvana Spinacci, Corporate Image & Social Responsibility, Alfasigma

“How many times have we said ‘nothing could surpass this’—whether moved by an emotion, a work of human genius, or a masterpiece of nature—only to realize that love and beauty have no limits? The Bologna Festival 2025 program embodies this dynamic, and supporting it once again fills us with gratitude and admiration.” — Francesco Bernardi, Founder, Illumia.