Autumn Dialogues
Young performers at Sala Casella, between Rome and the La Mortella Gardens in Ischia
About Autumn Dialogues
A series dedicated to young performers
Autumn Dialogues is the concert series that the Accademia Filarmonica Romana dedicates to early-career musicians in the heart of Rome. Created to provide a professional stage for talents emerging from the advanced programs of Italy's top music schools and academies, it takes place in the intimate Sala Casella on Via Flaminia 118, in the Flaminio district, just a short walk from the Auditorium Parco della Musica and the MAXXI museum. It is one of the key events that launch the musical season in the Capital, within the Metropolitan City of Rome, in the Lazio region.
The project with Ischia
The series stems from a collaboration with the William Walton Foundation and the La Mortella Gardens in Ischia, one of the most evocative chamber music venues in Italy. The concept is simple yet generous: each selected young performer does not play just once, but undertakes a triple appointment. The first concert is held on Thursday evening in Rome at Sala Casella; the following Saturday and Sunday, the same program is repeated in the Recital Hall of the La Mortella Gardens on the island of Ischia. For an emerging musician, this is a precious opportunity for practice, engagement with different audiences, and genuine professional growth.
How an evening unfolds
The format is exactly what gives the series its name: not just a simple recital, but a dialogue. Each concert is preceded by an introduction to the music by musicologist Valerio Sebastiani, who guides the audience through the pieces on the program before leaving the stage to the performers. It is a way to make even the most challenging repertoire accessible, without sacrificing rigor: those who enter the hall already know what they are about to hear and why those pieces matter.
The repertoire moves between the 18th and early 20th centuries: sonatas, piano cycles, and chamber works by the great composers of the past, tackled by those who are studying them with the freshness and ambition of their twenties. Recurring ensembles include solo piano and duos with violin or cello.
The Sala Casella
The Sala Casella is the historic home of the Accademia Filarmonica Romana, an institution founded in 1821 and among the oldest in Italy. With its limited capacity, it offers a close-up, almost domestic listening experience: the audience is just a few meters from the instruments, and the connection with the performer is direct. It is the perfect context for a series like this, because chamber music thrives on proximity.
Why it is worth attending
- You can hear emerging performers who have been carefully selected—often already winners of international competitions—before their names become known to the general public.
- Tickets are affordably priced, well below the average for classical concerts in Rome.
- The musicologist's introduction makes the evenings suitable even for those approaching chamber music for the first time.
- The series kicks off the season in September and October, when Rome is still mild and enjoying an evening outdoors before the concert is an added pleasure.
The Roman context
In the musical landscape of the Capital, where the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, the Teatro dell'Opera, and the Istituzione Universitaria dei Concerti coexist, Autumn Dialogues occupies a precise and recognizable space: that of the nursery. It does not chase big names; it anticipates them. It is a choice consistent with the educational vocation of the Accademia Filarmonica Romana, which, alongside its main season at the Teatro Argentina and Teatro Olimpico, has for years carried out projects to support young musicians and promote musical education.
Autumn Dialogues — edition 2026
Sixth edition
For the sixth edition, Autumn Dialogues confirms the formula that has ensured its success: four evenings at Sala Casella, always on Thursdays at 8:00 PM, entrusted to young instrumentalists selected from the best students of the advanced courses. The series is produced with the William Walton Foundation of Ischia, and each Roman program is repeated the following Saturday and Sunday at the La Mortella Gardens.
The 2026 performers
Opening the cycle are Monica Righi on cello and Ivan Maliboshka on piano, a duo formed in 2021 at the Piacenza Conservatory and first prize winners at the 2024 «Giulio Rospigliosi» International Chamber Music Competition. They are followed by piano recitals by Ruben Xhaferi, a twenty-one-year-old already awarded internationally, and Greta Lobefaro, born in 2001, who trained at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. Closing the series is the Gullino-Troncarelli Duo, violin and piano, formed in Turin in 2020.
The repertoire
As per the series' tradition, the programs traverse the repertoire of the great composers of the past, from the 18th to the early 20th century, with particular attention to the sonata and romantic piano cycles. Each concert is preceded by an introduction to the music by musicologist Valerio Sebastiani.
Programme Autumn Dialogues 2026
Concert Calendar — Sala Casella, 8:00 PM
- Thursday, September 17, 2026 — Monica Righi (cello) and Ivan Maliboshka (piano). Duo formed in 2021 at the Piacenza Conservatory, first prize at the 2024 «Giulio Rospigliosi» International Chamber Music Competition.
- Thursday, September 24, 2026 — Ruben Xhaferi, piano. Twenty-one years old, already a winner of international awards.
- Thursday, October 8, 2026 — Greta Lobefaro, piano. Born in 2001, trained at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.
- Thursday, October 15, 2026 — Gullino-Troncarelli Duo, violin and piano. Ensemble formed in Turin in 2020.
All concerts are preceded by an introduction to the music by musicologist Valerio Sebastiani. Each program is repeated the following Saturday and Sunday in the Recital Hall of the La Mortella Gardens in Ischia, in collaboration with the William Walton Foundation.
Highlights Autumn Dialogues 2026
- Sixth edition of the series, inaugurating the 2026/27 season of the Accademia Filarmonica Romana.
- Four Thursday evening concerts at Sala Casella, from September 17 to October 15, 2026.
- Opening concert with the Righi-Maliboshka duo, first prize at the 2024 «Giulio Rospigliosi» Competition.
- Two solo piano recitals: Ruben Xhaferi and Greta Lobefaro.
- Closing performance by the Gullino-Troncarelli Duo on October 15.
- Introduction to the music by musicologist Valerio Sebastiani before each concert.
- Repetition of each program at the La Mortella Gardens in Ischia the following weekend.
Prices Autumn Dialogues 2026
Practical information — Autumn Dialogues
Location
Sala Casella, Accademia Filarmonica Romana, Via Flaminia 118, 00196 Rome (Flaminio district).
How to get there
Metro: Line A, Flaminio stop (Piazzale Flaminio), then tram 2 towards Mancini to the Belle Arti stop. Tram: Line 2 along Via Flaminia. Bus: Lines along Viale Tiziano and Via Flaminia. Train: From Rome Termini, Metro A to Flaminio (about 15 minutes). Car: Limited traffic zone (ZTL) during certain hours and parking is difficult on concert nights — public transport is recommended.
Times and tickets
Concerts begin at 8:00 PM, preceded by the introduction to the music. Tickets for Sala Casella start at 12.50 euros; in previous editions, Autumn Dialogues evenings were offered at a single affordable price. Purchase online via the Accademia Filarmonica Romana website or at the hall box office before the concert.
Information
Accademia Filarmonica Romana — www.filarmonicaromana.org — [email protected].
Tips
The hall has limited capacity: it is advisable to book a few days in advance. Arrive at least 15 minutes early so as not to miss the musicologist's introduction, which is an integral part of the evening.
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Where does it take place — Autumn Dialogues
Sala Casella - Accademia Filarmonica Romana
Via Flaminia 118, 00196 Roma