Diocesan Festival of Sacred Music (Genzano stage - final concert)

A traveling festival concluding in Genzano di Roma

The Diocesan Festival of Sacred Music is a concert series promoted by the European Philharmonic Academy in collaboration with the Suburbicarian Diocese of Albano. Between May and June, it hosts free-admission concerts in the most significant churches across the diocesan territory, spanning the provinces of Rome and Latina. The Genzano di Roma stage holds a special place in the calendar, as it has become the permanent home for the final concert, hosted in the evocative Collegiate Church of the Santissima Trinità, located in the heart of the town's historic center.

Where it takes place: Genzano di Roma, Castelli Romani

Genzano di Roma is a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in the Lazio region. Overlooking Lake Nemi, it is famous throughout Italy for its Infiorata (flower festival) for Corpus Christi. With its enveloping acoustics and central location, the Collegiate Church of the Santissima Trinità transforms into a concert hall for the evening—a setting that perfectly unites architectural heritage, popular devotion, and classical music in harmony with the festival's spirit.

The performers

The artistic heart of the festival is the International Opera Choir, accompanied by the Orchestra of the European Philharmonic Academy, under the baton of Maestro Francesco Maria Silvagni, president and musical director of the Academy. The festival's artistic direction is entrusted to Ernesto Celani. The ensembles are joined by internationally acclaimed soloists, including soprano Cristina De Carolis, tenor Michael Alfonsi, bass Giordano Farina, and mezzo-soprano Chiara Chialli.

A repertoire from Palestrina to the 20th century

While the program changes annually, the core remains consistent: great European sacred music, ranging from Renaissance polyphony to Romantic and symphonic-choral repertoires, with occasional forays into contemporary music. Recent editions have featured works by Franz Liszt, Carl Maria von Weber, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and lesser-known composers like Ruggero Giovannelli, alongside pieces by living composers.

• Free admission to all festival concerts
• Evening concerts, generally starting at 9:00 PM
• Stages in multiple towns of the Castelli Romani and the coast: Albano Laziale, Aprilia, Ciampino, Anzio, Marino, Nettuno, Ariccia, and Genzano di Roma
• Professional soloists, choir, and orchestra, at no cost to the public

A festival with a mission

The festival is more than just a concert season: since its inception, it has chosen to link music with a message of peace, fraternity among peoples, and dialogue, with concerts dedicated to conflict zones and a special focus on accessibility, evidenced by its collaboration with the Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired. The festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture and sponsored by the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, with contributions from the BCC foundations of the Castelli Romani, Tuscolo, Colli Albani, and Nettuno, and in collaboration with the "Ottorino Respighi" Conservatory of Latina.

Why attend

Attending the final concert in Genzano means experiencing a high-level musical evening in a historic place of worship, without a ticket and in an atmosphere that is intimate yet far from austere. It is also an excellent opportunity to discover the Castelli Romani away from the most crowded tourist circuits: a walk through the center of Genzano, followed by dinner featuring the famous IGP pagnotta genzanese bread and Colli Albani wines, perfectly rounds off the day.