Festival Gaudete! – The Piano of the First Italians

Festival Gaudete! arrives in Scopa

Festival Gaudete! is an international early music festival that, for over fifteen years, has radiated from the alpine scenery of Valsesia, in the province of Vercelli, reaching numerous locations in upper Piedmont and, in some editions, southern Piedmont, Liguria, and Lombardy. Organized by the Triacamusicale Association based in Varallo, the festival offers concerts and musical discussions ranging from early music to classical, modern, and contemporary works, featuring internationally renowned soloists and ensembles.

As part of its 17th edition, the festival stops in the Municipality of Scopa, a small village in the middle Valsesia, with a highly refined event hosted in the church of San Bartolomeo.

"The Piano of the First Italians"

The concert, titled "The Piano of the First Italians", is a recital by pianist Massimiliano Génot, performed on a historical Ronisch piano. The program is dedicated to the piano repertoire linked to the origins of a unified Italy: a journey through 19th-century keyboard music, brought to life with the authentic sound of a period instrument.

Génot, born in Pinerolo, is an internationally acclaimed musician: a concert performer, professor at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Turin, composer, and scholar. He has refined his craft with masters such as Aldo Ciccolini, Maria Tipo, and Lazar Berman, dedicating himself in particular to the rediscovery of forgotten composers and performance on historical instruments.

An evening in church, between music and heritage

The setting of the church of San Bartolomeo adds a special charm to the concert: the acoustics and intimate atmosphere of the sacred building enhance the delicate timbre of the historical piano, in full harmony with the Festival Gaudete! mission to bring great music to the historical and religious heritage sites of Valsesia.

The context: Valsesia and musical tradition

The choice of mountain municipalities like Scopa is no coincidence: the festival was born to intertwine the rediscovery of early repertoire with the promotion of the territory, its churches, and its communities. For visitors, the event is also an opportunity to discover an authentic corner of the alpine Piedmont, far from mass tourism circuits.

• Municipality: Scopa (Province of Vercelli, Piedmont)
• Venue: Church of San Bartolomeo
• Genre: Piano recital on a historical instrument
• Organization: Triacamusicale Association

An event designed for early and classical music enthusiasts, but open to anyone wishing to experience an auteur evening in the quiet of the Valsesian mountains.