Guardiagrele Opera (GO Festival)

An opera festival in the heart of the Maiella

Guardiagrele Opera, also known as the GO Festival, is one of the most original classical music events in Abruzzo. It takes place in Guardiagrele, a stunning village in the province of Chieti, overlooking the Maiella National Park and renowned for its iron and gold craftsmanship. Founded in 2014 on the initiative of Antonello Lupiani, the festival is artistically directed by maestro Maurizio Colasanti, a conductor with extensive international experience.

Quality music and young talent

The festival's formula pursues two goals: bringing great music to a small town in the Abruzzo hinterland and offering young singers and instrumentalists the opportunity to perform in professional productions. Over the years, through auditions and advanced training programs, hundreds of young artists have been able to enter national and international opera circuits. The program ranges from Baroque opera to oratorios, and from symphonic concerts to orchestral reinterpretations of pop-rock classics.

Evocative settings

What makes Guardiagrele Opera unique is its choice of venues. Performances are held in the most charming locations in the town and its surrounding area:

• the Cloister of San Francesco and the square of the same name, in the historic center of Guardiagrele;
• the Belvedere Modesto Della Porta, a panoramic terrace overlooking the valley, which hosts the famous sunrise concerts;
• the Abbey of San Liberatore a Maiella, a Romanesque jewel in Serramonacesca, along with other local sites.

Sunrise concerts

Among the most beloved events are the sunrise concerts: the audience gathers outdoors shortly after five in the morning to listen to music as the sun rises over the Maiella, often with breakfast included. It is an experience that blends listening, nature, and landscape, and has become a signature feature of the festival.

A cultural landmark for Abruzzo

With over ten editions behind it, Guardiagrele Opera has established itself as a cultural landmark that promotes the musical and landscape heritage of Abruzzo. The festival collaborates with conservatories, universities, and other Italian opera institutions, helping to place Guardiagrele and the province of Chieti on the calendar of the region's major summer events.