International Festival of Baroque Music
A week of early music, art, and philosophy at the Diocleziano Auditorium
About Lanciano Baroque Music Festival
The Baroque festival of Lanciano
The International Festival of Baroque Music is one of the most well-established early music festivals in Abruzzo. Founded in 2012, it takes place every summer in Lanciano, an elegant art city in the province of Chieti. Its beating heart is the evocative Diocleziano Auditorium, complemented by historic churches and cultural landmarks throughout the city. The artistic direction is entrusted to Maestro Matteo Cicchitti, a double bassist, viola da gamba player, researcher, and international specialist in historical performance practice, as well as the founder of the Musica Elegentia association, which organizes the event.
Early music on period instruments
The festival offers an intense week of concerts performed on original instruments according to philological practice, with a repertoire spanning from the 16th to the 18th century. Alongside performances by the Musica Elegentia ensemble and the ME Collegium, the program features soloists and specialists in the lute, harpsichord, organ, recorder, and Baroque violin. Each edition is built around a central theme that links music to other arts, offering a coherent and thought-provoking journey.
More than just concerts
What makes this Abruzzese festival unique is its multidisciplinary nature: music engages in a dialogue with photography, philosophy, and the written word. Each edition hosts a photography exhibition, musicological conferences, book presentations, and guided listening sessions, transforming the festival into a true cultural and sensory experience.
- Concerts on period instruments at the Diocleziano Auditorium
- Thematic photography exhibitions
- Musicology and philosophy conferences and seminars
- Book presentations and guided listening sessions
An event for Lanciano and Abruzzo
With free admission to all events, the festival remains an open and inclusive initiative, capable of introducing a wide audience to the great Baroque repertoire. Included in the Estate Musicale Frentana program and the cultural initiatives of the Municipality of Lanciano, the International Festival of Baroque Music enhances the historical and artistic heritage of the Frentan city, helping to make Abruzzo a reference point for early music.
Lanciano Baroque Music Festival — edition 2026
15th edition: "Eternity of Instants"
From June 28 to July 5, 2026, the Diocleziano Auditorium in Lanciano hosted the fifteenth edition of the festival, dedicated to the 270th anniversary of Mozart's birth. The opening on Sunday, June 28, featured the inauguration of the meditative photography exhibition "MOZ-ART" by Benedetta Luciani and Oscar Andreoli, followed by a lecture by Prof. Giorgio Pagannone with gramophone listening for the "Music and Books" series.
The following evenings featured concerts on period instruments with specialists such as lutenist Domenico Cerasani, tenor Luigi De Luca, and flutist Pietro Meldolesi. The grand finale on Sunday, July 5, combined the presentation of the book "Eternity of Instants" by Matteo Cicchitti, introduced by Prof. Angelo Iocco, with a closing concert by the Musica Elegentia ensemble.
Programme Lanciano Baroque Music Festival 2026
Program 15th edition (June 28 – July 5, 2026)
- Sun, June 28 – 6:30 PM: Inauguration of the "MOZ-ART" photography exhibition (Benedetta Luciani, Oscar Andreoli); 9:00 PM: Lecture by Prof. Giorgio Pagannone with gramophone listening ("Music and Books")
- June 29 – July 4 – 9:00 PM: Concerts on period instruments with Domenico Cerasani (lute), Luigi De Luca (tenor), Pietro Meldolesi (flute and Baroque violin), and the ME Collegium
- Sun, July 5 – 9:00 PM: Presentation of the book "Eternity of Instants" by Matteo Cicchitti (introduced by Prof. Angelo Iocco), closing concert by the Musica Elegentia ensemble, and final celebration
Highlights Lanciano Baroque Music Festival 2026
Prices Lanciano Baroque Music Festival 2026
Practical information — Lanciano Baroque Music Festival
Getting there
Lanciano can be reached by car via the A14 motorway (Lanciano-Val di Sangro exit) and the SS652 Fondovalle Sangro. By train, the Lanciano station is connected to the Adriatic line; the nearest airport is Pescara-Abruzzo, approximately 50 km away.
Venue
Events are primarily held at the Diocleziano Auditorium and other historic locations in the center of Lanciano.
Admission
Free admission subject to availability. For information: [email protected], tel. +39 339 2207340, www.musicaelegentia.com.
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Where does it take place — Lanciano Baroque Music Festival
Auditorium Diocleziano