GIO Festival – Giordano International Opera Festival

An international opera festival in honor of Umberto Giordano

The GIO Festival – Giordano International Opera Festival was founded in Foggia in 2026 as a major cultural project dedicated to Umberto Giordano (1867-1948), the Foggia-born composer and one of the leading figures of Italian musical verismo, known for masterpieces such as Andrea Chénier and Fedora. The inaugural edition, scheduled from June 5 to 20, 2026, turns the capital of the Capitanata region and its surrounding area into an open-air stage, bringing grand opera to the heart of the maestro's birthplace.

Over twenty events spanning opera, jazz, and culture

The program features over twenty events ranging from opera to jazz, chamber music to cinema, as well as talks, exhibitions, and masterclasses. Three major theatrical productions anchor the program:

• Marina – premiering on June 5 at the Teatro Comunale Umberto Giordano, this is one of Giordano's early works, presented in its first-ever staged performance, conducted by Matteo Dal Maso.
• Il Re – on June 14 and 15, Giordano's one-act opera is presented in an itinerant "street" version, engaging urban spaces between Foggia and Manfredonia.
• Andrea Chénier – on June 20 in Piazza Cavour in Foggia, an open-air revival of the Teatro alla Scala production directed by Mario Martone, featuring the Orchestra and Choir of the Fondazione Teatro Petruzzelli of Bari, conducted by Gianna Fratta, with an international cast.

Gio Jazz, White Night, and a widespread territory

Alongside the operatic titles, the festival offers the Gio Jazz section, featuring stars such as Danilo Rea, Francesca Tandoi, and Flavio Boltro; the chamber music series Un Giordano, s'il vous plaît!, dedicated to Lieder and chamber music; and Gio Cinema, with screenings of operas and films related to the composer. On June 13, the Giordanian White Night enlivens the historic center of Foggia with concerts, guided tours, and performances lasting late into the night.

A project for Puglia and the Capitanata

Promoted by the Foggia Chamber of Commerce with the support of ISNART and the collaboration of local entities such as the University of Foggia, the "Umberto Giordano" Conservatory, the Orchestra Suoni del Sud, the Fondazione dei Monti Uniti, and the Fondazione Apulia Felix, the GIO Festival spreads across seven towns in the province of Foggia: Foggia, Biccari, Manfredonia, Peschici, Roseto Valfortore, Torremaggiore, and Vieste. It is a way to weave great music with the discovery of the Daunia villages and the Gargano coast, offering the public a cultural experience rooted in the identity of the Puglia Region.