Millico Festival

A festival for the 'Muscovite' of Terlizzi

In the heart of Puglia, just a few kilometers from Bari, the town of Terlizzi preserves the memory of one of the most refined Italian musicians of the 18th century: Vito Giuseppe Millico (Terlizzi, 1737 – Naples, 1802), a famous castrato, singing teacher, and composer known throughout Europe by the nickname 'the Muscovite'. A performer and collaborator of Christoph Willibald Gluck, with whom he shared the ideals of opera reform, Millico sang in the most important theaters and courts on the continent, from Naples to Vienna, and from Saint Petersburg to London. The festival, which brings his music home every year, is dedicated to him.

The Sovero Association series

The Millico Festival is organized by the Sovero Association, a cultural group from Terlizzi founded in 2001, dedicated to protecting and promoting the local artistic and historical heritage. The artistic direction is entrusted to Maestro Michele Visaggi. For several years, the festival has offered Baroque and chamber music concerts, featuring soloists and ensembles specializing in early repertoire and historical instruments, rediscovering both the works of the local genius and the great masters of the 17th and 18th centuries.

The venues

Concerts take place in some of the most evocative spots in the center of Terlizzi: the confraternity and monumental churches of the city—including the Church of Santa Maria della Stella, the Church of Santa Maria di Costantinopoli, and the Church of Santa Maria La Nova—as well as the Municipal Library, all providing ideal acoustic and historical settings for the Baroque repertoire.

Part of the 'Estate a Terlizzi' program

In 2026, the Millico Festival joins the rich Estate a Terlizzi program, which features over forty events spanning culture, music, tradition, and entertainment throughout the summer months. The four concerts of the festival are scheduled for September 6, 13, 21, and 28, 2026, ideally closing the cultural season of the Municipality of Terlizzi, in the province of Bari.

Why it's worth attending

• An authentic tribute to a Puglian protagonist of 18th-century European music.
• Baroque and chamber music performed in historic churches with refined acoustics.
• A free-admission festival designed to introduce the general public to early music repertoire.
• An opportunity to discover Terlizzi, the 'City of Flowers' of Puglia, and its cultural heritage.