Monfrà Jazz Fest — Preview in Villadeati

Monfrà Jazz Fest arrives in Villadeati

The Monfrà Jazz Fest, one of the most evocative jazz festivals in Piedmont, brings its widespread music to the town of Villadeati in 2026, located in the province of Alessandria, in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Monferrato. Promoted by Le Muse Accademia Europea d'Arte under the artistic direction of Ima Ganora and Gigi Andreone, the festival, now in its ninth edition, enlivens Casale Monferrato and numerous local villages every year, transforming squares, viewpoints, and ancient places of worship into natural stages.

The 9th edition: "Terre di Jazz"

The 2026 edition, titled "Terre di Jazz: syncopated continents and off-course islands", portrays jazz as a language without a passport, capable of uniting roots, migrations, and new identities. The program is divided into several stages: a first leg in Casale Monferrato from June 21 to 28, the summer session in Valcerrina from August 13 to 16, and the closing with the Wine & Spirits section among vineyards and distilleries on September 12 and 13. The Villadeati stop, scheduled for May 22, ideally opens the season as a festival preview.

"The Emperor's New Clothes" at the former church of San Remigio

The Villadeati event is part of the MonJF Young section, dedicated to new generations and families, and is organized in collaboration with the VilladeArTi festival of the Municipality of Villadeati. On Friday, May 22, 2026, at 9:00 PM, the evocative former church of San Remigio hosts the show "The Emperor's New Clothes" by the Fiabe Jazz company.

It is a refined musical theatre performance, loosely based on the famous fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, combining acting, improvisation, elaborate costumes, and original live music. On stage are Roberto Caccavo (conception and dramaturgy), Francesco Giorgi (original music), and Niccolò Curradi, with set design by Giovanna Mastantuoni and costumes by Veronica Di Pietrantonio. The story follows the adventures of a vain emperor in search of the perfect outfit, told in a contemporary language that speaks to both children and adults.

Music, village, and the Monferrato landscape

Villadeati, a small hillside village in the Casale Monferrato area overlooking the vine-covered hills of the UNESCO Heritage site, offers an intimate and cozy setting, perfect for the widespread format of the Monfrà Jazz Fest. The choice of the former church of San Remigio, a place with strong historical and architectural value, confirms the festival's commitment to highlighting the hidden treasures of small towns in the province of Alessandria. An opportunity to discover Monferrato and Piedmont through the universal language of music, away from large stages and immersed in the hilly landscape.