Emilia Romagna Festival — Concerts in Russi
The great music of ERF in the evocative Ex Chiesa in Albis
About ERF in Russi
The Emilia Romagna Festival in Russi
The Emilia Romagna Festival (ERF) is one of the most important classical and contemporary music festivals in Central-Northern Italy. Founded in 2001 and directed by flutist Massimo Mercelli, it features dozens of concerts every summer in over twenty locations across the provinces of Ravenna, Forlì-Cesena, Bologna, and Ferrara. Among the festival venues is the Municipality of Russi, in the province of Ravenna, in Emilia-Romagna, where concerts are held in the Ex Chiesa in Albis, one of the most evocative historic spaces in the town.
The Ex Chiesa in Albis, a stage between history and music
The ERF evenings in Russi take place in the Ex Chiesa in Albis, an ancient deconsecrated building that has now become a cultural space for the Municipality of Russi. Its intimate acoustics and atmosphere make it ideal for chamber music and for the world music and crossover projects that characterize the festival. Concerts usually start at 9:00 PM, when the cool evening air makes listening even more pleasant.
A program between classical and contemporary
The hallmark of ERF is the dialogue between classical repertoire and new languages, according to the motto "Classical is Contemporary". In Russi, this translates into evenings ranging from ancient music to the Celtic and folk sounds of Ireland and Scotland, jazz, and singer-songwriter music, featuring international soloists and ensembles. Over the years, the Ex Chiesa in Albis has hosted refined projects that have combined philological rigor with the ability to move even less specialized audiences.
- Genre: classical, chamber, world, and contemporary music
- Location: Ex Chiesa in Albis, Russi (RA)
- Period: summer, as part of the ERF program from July to September
- Time: evening concerts, generally at 9:00 PM
Russi and the territory
Nestled in the Romagna plain between Ravenna and Faenza, Russi is a town rich in history, known for its Municipal Theater, the Pieve di San Pancrazio, and the nearby archaeological site of the Roman Villa. The Emilia Romagna Festival evenings are the perfect opportunity to discover the center of Russi, with its culture, Romagna food and wine, and hospitality, just a few kilometers from the UNESCO World Heritage Byzantine masterpieces of Ravenna.
Why attend
For the artistic quality of the program and the affordable ticket prices, the ERF concerts in the Ex Chiesa in Albis are among the most recommended cultural events of the Ravenna summer: great performers, a historic venue in the heart of Russi, and an atmosphere difficult to find in large concert halls.
ERF in Russi — edition 2026
ERF 2026 in Russi
The 26th edition of the Emilia Romagna Festival brings to Russi, in the province of Ravenna, an evening in the Ex Chiesa in Albis, starting at 9:00 PM.
- July 12, 9:00 PM — the Trio O'Carolan in a program dedicated to Irish and Scottish music from the 16th-18th centuries. The trio's name pays homage to Turlough O'Carolan (1670–1738), the greatest composer of Irish folk music, a blind harpist who traveled Ireland for fifty years composing melodies for his patrons.
The concert is part of the ERF summer program (July 1–September 12, 2026), a series of 57 events directed by Massimo Mercelli under the motto "Classical is Contemporary", in collaboration with the Municipality of Russi and the Emilia-Romagna Region.
Programme ERF in Russi 2026
2026 Program at Ex Chiesa in Albis
- July 12, 9:00 PM — Trio O'Carolan: Elena Spotti (Irish harp), Luca Rapazzini (violin), and Fabio Rinaudo (uilleann pipes and whistle). A repertoire of Irish and Scottish music from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, centered around the melodies of Turlough O'Carolan and Celtic tradition. Elena Spotti is an internationally renowned harpist with degrees in modern and baroque harp; Fabio Rinaudo is among the foremost Italian performers of uilleann pipes, the refined Irish bagpipes, with over three thousand concerts across Europe.
Highlights ERF in Russi 2026
- The Trio O'Carolan in the evocative Ex Chiesa in Albis, 9:00 PM
- Irish and Scottish music from the 16th-18th centuries with harp, violin, and uilleann pipes
- Homage to Turlough O'Carolan, father of Irish folk music
- Part of the 26th edition of the Emilia Romagna Festival directed by Massimo Mercelli
Prices ERF in Russi 2026
Practical information — ERF in Russi
Where
Ex Chiesa in Albis, Russi (RA), Emilia-Romagna. The venue is located in the town center, a short walk from the main squares.
How to get there
By car: from the A14 motorway, take the Ravenna or Faenza exit, then follow ordinary roads to Russi. By train: Russi station on the Castel Bolognese–Ravenna line, a short distance from the center. Nearest airports: Forlì and Bologna Marconi (approx. 75 km).
Tickets
Paid admission with affordable rates, in line with the Emilia Romagna Festival's policy (in recent years around 12 euros for full price, with significant discounts for under 27s and under 10s). Tickets and information on the official website emiliaromagnafestival.it.
Tips
Concerts start at 9:00 PM: it is advisable to arrive early for seating. In case of bad weather, events may be moved or rescheduled.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — ERF in Russi
Ex Chiesa in Albis
Via Fiume Vecchio, 48026 Russi