Echos Festival – Pellegrino-Persichetti Duo

Echos in Castelnuovo Scrivia: Music and History at the Castle

The municipality of Castelnuovo Scrivia, an ancient village in the Tortona area overlooking the Scrivia valley in the province of Alessandria, hosts one of the most evocative stops of Echos. I Luoghi e la Musica, an international traveling music festival that visits castles, churches, villas, and wineries across the Alessandria province and the Monferrato region every spring. The festival, organized by the Ondasonora APS Musical Association under the artistic direction of pianist Sergio Marchegiani, weaves together high-level concerts with the discovery of Piedmont's historical and artistic heritage.

The Pellegrino-Persichetti Duo

The star of the Castelnuovo stop is the Pellegrino-Persichetti Duo, composed of violinist Ettore Pellegrino and guitarist Gianluca Persichetti. The ensemble offers a refined dialogue between violin and guitar, two instruments with complementary timbres, in a program featuring celebrated repertoire: from the virtuosity of Niccolò Paganini to the lyricism of Heitor Villa-Lobos, and from the Spanish fantasies of Pablo de Sarasate to the 'nuevo tango' of Astor Piazzolla. It is a journey spanning from great classical virtuosity to the unmistakable atmosphere of South American tango.

The Castello dei Torriani e dei Bandello

The concert takes place in the halls of the Castello dei Torriani e dei Bandello on Via Solferino, one of the iconic landmarks of Castelnuovo Scrivia. The palace, dominated by a 39-meter-high crenellated tower, preserves frescoed halls from the 15th and 16th centuries on its main floor and is linked to the memory of Matteo Bandello, the famous Renaissance short-story writer from the village. Today, the building houses the civic library and numerous cultural events, and is part of the Luoghi di Echos, the historic venues that give the festival its identity as a widespread regional event.

An International Traveling Festival

Echos is not tied to a single venue: its traveling nature takes it to numerous municipalities in the province of Alessandria and the Monferrato, from Casale Monferrato to Acqui Terme, and from Tortona to Novi Ligure and Valenza, with dozens of concerts held throughout the spring. The programming ranges from chamber music to solo performances by Italian and international artists, supported by the Ministry of Culture, the Piedmont Region, and local foundations and administrations.

Music and Guided Tour

The Castelnuovo Scrivia stop is designed as a complete experience: before the concert, a free guided tour of the Castle is provided by the Cantiere Cultura volunteers, allowing guests to discover the history and frescoes of the palace. Admission to the concert is free, but due to the limited capacity of the halls, mandatory booking is required. It is a perfect way to experience great music in an intimate and charming setting in the heart of Piedmont.