Malibran Festival
Classical music, jazz, tango, and flamenco in Altidona, in the heart of Valdaso
About Malibran Festival
The Malibran Festival, great music in Valdaso
In the village of Altidona, overlooking the hills of Valdaso in the Province of Fermo, the Malibran Festival takes place every year. It is the musical review promoted by the International Music Academy Maria Malibran. Dedicated to the legendary opera singer Maria Malibran, the festival has become in a few years one of the main events in the Marche region for chamber music, capable of bringing national and international performers to a small inland town.
A long season, from March to December
Unlike festivals concentrated in a few days, the Malibran Festival spans almost the entire year, with about twenty events from March to December. The heart of the review is the Sala Colonna of the Academy, at Via Po 12, which houses a precious Steinway & Sons grand piano, restored and once played by Arthur Rubinstein. Some concerts are also held at the Teatro Mercantini in Ripatransone and, on summer evenings, in the charming Giardino degli Ulivi (Olive Garden) of the Academy.
The sections of the review
Under the artistic direction of Rossella Marcantoni, founder and president of the Academy, the program is divided into several streams:
- Malibran Classica (Golden Concerts): the core of the review, featuring great soloists, chamber duos, string quartets, and the complete Piano Sonatas by Beethoven.
- Malibran Jazz: evenings dedicated to author jazz, often in tribute to departed masters and friends of the Academy.
- Malibran Tango & Flamenco: the summer opening night in the Giardino degli Ulivi, featuring Piazzolla and Argentine rhythms.
- Salotto Malibran: conferences, in-depth meetings, and the International Maria Malibran Award for Lifetime Achievement.
More than just a concert
One of the most beloved features of the Malibran Festival is the convivial moment that concludes many evenings: a toast in the Sala Malibran with the artists, featuring local wines and Valdaso amaretti (almond biscuits). For visitors to the Marche, it's the perfect opportunity to combine great music, hospitality, and typical products in a single experience, far from the most crowded tourist circuits.
Malibran Festival — edition 2026
The 16th edition of the Malibran Festival confirms itself as one of the richest chamber music seasons in the Marche region, with approximately twenty events spread from March to December 2026 between the Sala Colonna in Altidona, the Teatro Mercantini in Ripatransone, and the Giardino degli Ulivi. Directed by Rossella Marcantoni, the review alternates great performers, young talents, and multi-year projects such as the complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas entrusted to Ivan Donchev.
Alongside the classical section, the festival offers evenings of author jazz, a summer opening night of tango in the Giardino degli Ulivi, and the International Maria Malibran Award for Lifetime Achievement. New for 2026 is the 1st International Composition Competition for classical guitar Maria Malibran.
Programme Malibran Festival 2026
Malibran Classica - Golden Concerts
- March 1, 6:00 PM, Sala Colonna - "Great Sonatas for Violin and Piano": Domenico Nordio (violin), Roberto Plano (piano), music by Brahms, Fauré, Janáček (15 euros)
- March 21, 9:15 PM, Sala Colonna - "Donchev Plays Beethoven" (4th complete concert): Ivan Donchev (piano), Sonatas op. 13, 22, 26 (15 euros)
- April 26, 6:00 PM, Sala Colonna - "Folk Songs": Lucia Napoli (mezzo-soprano), Filippo Farinelli (piano), music by Berio, Daniel-Lesur, Ravel, Respighi (10 euros)
- May 30, 9:15 PM, Sala Colonna - "Between Passion and Virtuosity": Aniello Desiderio (guitar), music by Torroba, Granados, Ponce, Brouwer (15 euros)
- June 14, 6:00 PM, Teatro Mercantini (Ripatransone) - "The Great Italian Quartets": Siegfried String Quartet, music by Verdi, Puccini, Bossi (10 euros)
- June 27, 9:15 PM, Sala Colonna - "Momentum": Adam Adov (piano), music by Scarlatti, Liszt, Rachmaninoff (10 euros)
- July 11, 9:15 PM, Sala Colonna - "Immortal Harmonies": Angela Cagnazzo (violin), Gabriele Pedone (piano), music by Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Kreisler (10 euros)
- September 26, 9:15 PM, Sala Colonna - "Form and Color": Trio Rinaldo, music by Beethoven and Ravel (10 euros)
- October 11, 5:30 PM, Teatro Mercantini (Ripatransone) - Italian Saxophone Quartet (Federico Mondelci, Julian Brodski, Silvio Rossomando, Michele Paolino), music by Händel, Albéniz, Iturralde, Morricone, Piovani, Piazzolla (15 euros)
- October 24, 9:15 PM, Sala Colonna - "Donchev Plays Beethoven" (5th concert): Ivan Donchev, Sonatas op. 27 and 28 (15 euros)
- December 20, 5:30 PM, Sala Colonna - Christmas Concert, "Donchev Plays Beethoven" (6th concert): Ivan Donchev, Sonatas op. 31 (15 euros)
Malibran Jazz
- April 12, 6:00 PM, Sala Colonna - "Daniele Di Bonaventura Plays Bill Evans": Daniele Di Bonaventura (piano and bandoneon) (10 euros)
- May 17, 6:00 PM, Sala Colonna - "Jazz Weaves": Phil Markowitz (piano), Maurizio Giammarco (saxophone) (15 euros)
- November 29, 5:30 PM, Sala Colonna - "Argentalia": Javier Girotto (saxophone), Claudio Vignali (piano) (15 euros)
Malibran Tango & Flamenco
- July 25, 9:15 PM, Giardino degli Ulivi - Festival opening night, "Ma-Rea Duo": Massimo Tagliata (accordion), Andrea Dessì (guitar), music by Piazzolla, Gardel, Barbieri (10 euros)
Malibran Chanson d'Auteur
- November 7, 9:15 PM, Sala Colonna - "La Chanson Française - Hommage à Léo Ferré" (10 euros)
Salotto Malibran
- September 12, 6:00 PM, Sala Colonna - Conference "The Figure and Art of Maria Malibran", speaker Piero Mioli (free admission)
- September 13, 6:00 PM, Teatro Mercantini (Ripatransone) - International Maria Malibran Award for Lifetime Achievement (2nd edition), gala evening (10 euros)
Highlights Malibran Festival 2026
Prices Malibran Festival 2026
Practical information — Malibran Festival
Where
Sala Colonna of the International Music Academy Maria Malibran, Via Po 12, Altidona (FM). Some concerts at the Teatro Mercantini in Ripatransone and, in summer, in the Giardino degli Ulivi of the Academy.
How to get there
By car: from the A14 motorway, take the Pedaso exit, then head inland along the Valdaso valley to Altidona. The nearest train station is Pedaso, on the Adriatic line.
Tickets
Admission from 10 to 15 euros per concert depending on the event. Free for children under 12 (limited seats, booking recommended). Ticket office open from one hour before the performance at the Sala Colonna.
Information and booking
Phone and WhatsApp: 338 8219079. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.accademiamalibran.it.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Malibran Festival
Sala Colonna - Accademia Musicale Internazionale Maria Malibran
Via Po 12, 63824 Altidona