Carl Orff Music Festival

A classical music festival in the heart of Puglia

The Carl Orff Music Festival is one of the most deeply rooted classical music events in the town of Putignano, located in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Puglia. Every year, between late August and early September, the festival transforms the squares, cloisters, and theaters of the historic center into open-air concert halls, bringing the great tradition of chamber and symphonic music to one of the region's most famous cities, known as the home of Europe's longest carnival.

History and Foundation

The festival was conceived by the American cellist Michael Flaksman and continues to grow year after year thanks to the Associazione Artistico-Musicale Carl Orff, which manages its organization. The artistic direction is entrusted to Maestro Vito Amatulli. In 2025, the event celebrated its nineteenth edition, confirming its status as a staple of the Apulian musical summer, with the patronage of the Metropolitan City of Bari, the Club Imprese per la Cultura of Confindustria Bari-BAT, and the support of the Municipality of Putignano.

Festival Venues

One of the festival's hallmarks is its choice of venues steeped in history and charm. Concerts are held in various spaces throughout Putignano's urban fabric:

• Piazza Teatro, which hosts large, free open-air concerts;
• the Town Hall Cloister (Chiostro del Palazzo Comunale), an intimate setting for chamber music;
• the Teatro Giovanni Laterza, the venue for the closing concerts.

This variety of settings allows the audience to experience music in dialogue with the city's architectural heritage and identity.

Program and International Section

The programming alternates between masterpieces of the classical and romantic repertoire and more original offerings, with an international section that brings soloists from all over the world to Putignano. Alongside symphonic and chamber concerts, the festival often features performances that combine music and dance, such as productions created with local choreographic companies.

The "L'arte nelle tue mani" Award

The Carl Orff Music Festival is more than just concerts: it is also a platform for showcasing talented young Apulian musicians. Throughout its editions, the festival has presented the "L'arte nelle tue mani" (Art in Your Hands) award, a recognition dedicated to young local musicians, reflecting the event's commitment to education and community.

A Highlight of the Apulian Summer

With its mix of high-level music, evocative settings, and focus on youth, the Carl Orff Music Festival offers a precious opportunity to discover Putignano and Puglia in a different light than its famous carnival: that of a city that, on late summer evenings, lets itself be carried away by the notes of great classical music.