Alessandro Scarlatti Conservatory Concert Season
The great music of the Palermo Conservatory across the city's theaters, churches, and historic landmarks
About Scarlatti Season Palermo
Music traversing Palermo
The Alessandro Scarlatti Conservatory Concert Season is one of the most comprehensive and long-standing musical events in the Sicilian capital. Organized by the historic institution—which has been the guardian of Palermo's musical history since 1617—the festival transforms the city into a vast, open-air stage each year, bringing concerts, recitals, and productions to the most prestigious venues in the Municipality of Palermo, in Sicily.
Six thematic strands
The program, which spans from February to December, is organized into six major thematic series that allow the audience to explore different repertoires and languages:
- Symphonic and chamber music - featuring the Conservatory's orchestra and choir on the city's grandest stages;
- Early music - performed in historic churches, from the Martorana to the Cathedral and various abbeys;
- Piano repertoire - recitals and duos dedicated to the grand piano;
- Jazz festival - a week entirely dedicated to jazz, usually in July;
- Contemporary music "Tracce di Suoni" - dedicated to the languages of our time, spread between spring and autumn;
- Social initiatives - concerts in hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons.
The venues of the season
The strength of the festival lies in its choice of locations: the Teatro Massimo with its Main Hall, the Politeama Garibaldi, the Real Teatro Santa Cecilia, the Sala Ferrara at the Conservatory, and the jewels of Norman and Baroque heritage such as the Martorana Church, the Palermo Cathedral, the Monreale Cathedral, and the Abbey of San Martino delle Scale. A journey that weaves together music and architecture, making the season an itinerary for discovering the city itself.
Students and faculty together
At the heart of the programming is the educational dimension: the season is born as a synthesis of the Conservatory's didactic and artistic path, featuring students performing alongside their professors in solo recitals, ensemble productions, and special projects. Beyond its artistic value, the festival cultivates a strong social vocation, with concert cycles like "Notes for Health" and "Music and Care" brought into hospitals and care facilities throughout the province.
A widespread and free season
Most events offer free admission until capacity is reached, in line with the institution's public mission. The Scarlatti Conservatory Concert Season thus represents a precious opportunity to engage with classical music, jazz, and contemporary works in the heart of Palermo, in a continuous dialogue between education, tradition, and the city.
Scarlatti Season Palermo — edition 2026
The 2026 edition opens on Wednesday, February 4, at 8:30 PM, at the Main Hall of the Teatro Massimo, with the inaugural concert: the Conservatory's choir and Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Loris Capister, with choir master Fabio Ciulla, will perform "Attesa" by Eliodoro Sollima and Rossini's "Petite Messe Solennelle".
Key highlights include: the Conservatory Orchestra at the Politeama Garibaldi (March 2) and again at the Teatro Massimo (May 6); the Tuesday chamber music cycle in Sala Ferrara; the jazz festival at the Real Teatro Santa Cecilia (July 16-22); and the contemporary music festival "Tracce di Suoni" between May, June, and September. There will also be space for early music in historic churches—Martorana, Cathedral, Monreale Cathedral, Abbey of San Martino delle Scale—and productions such as Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi" (June 6-7) and "Tales on Tales".
Programme Scarlatti Season Palermo 2026
Inaugural concert
February 4, 8:30 PM - Teatro Massimo (Main Hall): Conservatory Choir and Symphony Orchestra, cond. Loris Capister. Music by Eliodoro Sollima ("Attesa") and Rossini ("Petite Messe Solennelle").
Symphonic and orchestral
- March 2, 6:00 PM - Politeama Garibaldi: Orchestral Exercises Class Orchestra
- May 6, 8:30 PM - Teatro Massimo: Conservatory Orchestra
Chamber music (Sala Ferrara, Tuesdays 6:00 PM)
- March 10: "Lights and shadows: poems of a Soul"
- March 24: Ruggiero Mascellino with guests
- March 31: "The myth of Orpheus and Eurydice"
- April 14: 150th anniversary of Guido Alberto Fano
- April 21: Butticè-La Marca Piano Duo
- April 28: "Liebeslieder: Schumann and Brahms"
- May 19: Egorova-Bentivegna Duo
- June 23: Saxophone and piano duo
Jazz festival (Teatro Santa Cecilia, 8:30 PM)
- July 16: "A Stranger in Town"
- July 17: "Glenn Miller Story"
- July 20: Mauro Carpi Quintet
- July 21: Dedalo Ensemble / Guitar World
- July 22: "Dialogues in jazz: tradition and innovation"
Early and sacred music
- October 3 - Monreale Cathedral: Oratorio for the Passion by A. Scarlatti
- October 15 - Martorana Church: Telemann
- Concerts dedicated to Machaut, Dufay, Ockeghem
Other events
- May 12 - Teatro Santa Cecilia: "Tales on Tales - Fairy tales and stories in music"
- May 29 - Palermo Cathedral: concert dedicated to Mozart
- June 6-7 - Teatro Santa Cecilia: "Gianni Schicchi" by Puccini
- July 18 - Abbey of San Martino delle Scale: XXXIX Organ Festival
Highlights Scarlatti Season Palermo 2026
Prices Scarlatti Season Palermo 2026
Practical information — Scarlatti Season Palermo
How to get there
Palermo is connected by the Falcone-Borsellino Airport (Punta Raisi), the central train station, and the port. The season's venues (Teatro Massimo, Politeama, Conservatory on Via Squarcialupo, and historic center churches) are reachable on foot or by public transport from the city center.
Tickets
Many concerts have free admission until capacity is reached; for events in the grand theaters, tickets or invitations may be required. Please consult the Conservatory's official website and social media channels for each individual event.
Information
Alessandro Scarlatti Conservatory of Music, Via Squarcialupo 45, Palermo. Full program at conservatoriopalermo.it.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Scarlatti Season Palermo
Conservatorio Alessandro Scarlatti (e sedi varie)
Via Squarcialupo 45, 90133 Palermo