Battiati Jazz Festival – Notes in the Theatre

A jazz season at the gates of Catania

The Battiati Jazz Festival – Notes in the Theatre is one of the most popular jazz series in the Etna area. It takes place in the Municipality of Sant'Agata li Battiati, a small town in the urban belt of Catania, Sicily, inside the Gilberto Idonea Theatre of the Cultural Hub on Via dello Stadio 19. Established in 2014, the event has built a precise identity over the years: not just a single summer event, but a full-fledged concert season spread across winter and spring, from February to May.

A series signed by Musikante

The series is organised by the Musikante Cultural Association and is directed by drummer and artistic director Antonio Petralia, a key figure in the Catania jazz scene. The format consists of a programme of seven events that alternate between nationally renowned ensembles and original projects, exploring diverse musical languages: from the classic repertoire to new compositions, and from vocal jazz to the most innovative forms of improvisation.

The theatre as a space for listening

The artistic project revolves around the relationship between word and sound, lyricism and improvisation. The Cultural Hub's theatre, with its intimate setting and carefully curated acoustics, is transformed into a space where music takes shape and the audience is invited to a privileged listening experience. This sense of proximity between musicians and spectators is one of the festival's hallmarks, far removed from the logic of large outdoor events.

Between big names and new generations

Over the years, the Battiati Jazz Festival programme has hosted established names from the Italian scene alongside emerging young talents, winners of major national competitions. Vocal quartets, instrumental trios, and auteur projects take turns on stage, with a particular focus on contemporary vocal jazz and genre-blending.

A cultural landmark for the territory

For Sant'Agata li Battiati and the entire province of Catania, the series represents an important cultural stronghold, capable of bringing great jazz into a local context and showcasing the talents of the Etna and Sicilian region. The distribution of concerts throughout the winter and spring months also makes it a recurring appointment in the calendar for enthusiasts, during a time of year traditionally less rich in live musical events.