Gustav Mahler Musikwochen - Concert at the Church of Santa Maddalena im Moos

A Mahlerian concert in Villabassa

The Gustav Mahler Musikwochen (Gustav Mahler Music Weeks) are among the most prestigious classical music festivals in South Tyrol. While their primary hub is in Dobbiaco/Toblach—the very place where the Austrian composer spent his summers crafting some of his greatest masterpieces—the Musikwochen venture beyond the main concert hall each year to bring great music to the surrounding villages of the Upper Puster Valley. It is within this spirit that the event hosted in Villabassa/Niederdorf, a municipality in the province of Bolzano, Trentino-Alto Adige, takes place.

The Church of Santa Maddalena im Moos

The concert is held in the Church of Santa Maddalena im Moos (St. Magdalena im Moos, also known as the Mooskirche), one of the most fascinating sacred buildings in the Puster Valley. Built in 1490 by the will of Countess Paola di Gonzaga, wife of the Marquis Leonardo of Gorizia, the church stands isolated on a gentle grassy slope near the woods, in a position of extraordinary charm. Inside, it preserves late-Gothic and early-Baroque elements, the choir frescoes by Simone da Tesido (1491), an early 17th-century altar, and a historic organ that ranks among the most precious in Europe: providing ideal acoustics and atmosphere for chamber music.

Performers and Program

In keeping with the festival's mission, which pairs grand symphonic concerts with a rich chamber music program, the Villabassa concert features internationally acclaimed chamber ensembles, often drawn from the festival's resident orchestra. The repertoire spans from Viennese Classicism to the great European 19th century, creating an ideal dialogue with the Mahlerian universe celebrated throughout the festival. Admission is free, in line with the tradition of the festival's chamber music events held across the region.

A festival spread across the Upper Puster Valley

Through initiatives like this, the Gustav Mahler Musikwochen are not just a Dobbiaco event but a true festival spread across the territory, capable of highlighting the artistic and landscape heritage of the entire Upper Puster Valley. For classical music lovers and tourists visiting the Puster Valley in summer, the concert at the church of Santa Maddalena in Villabassa offers a precious opportunity to combine listening to great music with the discovery of a small treasure of art and faith in Trentino-Alto Adige.