Moreschi Festival – In Choir for the Angel of Rome
The choral festival in Monte Compatri dedicated to the last castrato of the Sistine Chapel
About Moreschi Festival
A festival born from a legendary voice
The Moreschi Festival – In Choir for the Angel of Rome is a choral event that brings Monte Compatri, a village in the Castelli Romani area near Rome, to life every year between spring and early summer. The title refers to the nickname of Alessandro Moreschi (1858-1922), the "Angel of Rome": born in Monte Compatri, he was the last castrato of the Sistine Chapel Choir and the only one to have his voice captured in sound recordings. This unique legacy inspired a festival that celebrates the human voice in all its forms, from liturgical chant and Renaissance polyphony to contemporary repertoire.
Organizers
The festival is promoted by the Alessandro Moreschi Polyphonic Choir Association, a group founded in 2001 and currently directed by Maestro Adele Rossi, with the patronage and support of the Municipality of Monte Compatri and the collaboration of the Photo Club Controluce and the Compagnia del Duomo. It is a community event in the truest sense: born from the work of a high-level amateur choir, it involves local parishes, cultural associations, and local businesses, giving the residents a piece of their own musical identity back.
What to expect
The program changes every year but maintains a recognizable structure, spread over two or more evenings:
- Choral Showcase: Polyphonic choirs and vocal ensembles invited from across the Lazio region and beyond take turns on stage or in the nave of one of the village's historic churches, each with their own conductor and repertoire.
- Sacred Music and Polyphony: Palestrina, Bach, Mozart, Verdi, and the masters of the Roman school are regular guests, often in dialogue with contemporary spiritual works.
- Musical-Theatrical Productions: In recent years, the festival has developed original shows where the choir shares the stage with actors, piano, violin, set design, and lighting effects.
- Social Moments: Evenings almost always conclude with a public reception, providing an opportunity for choristers, conductors, and the audience to meet.
The Venues
The festival moves through the most beautiful spaces in Monte Compatri: the Teatro Don Narciso Bortolotti, a municipal hall that hosts stage productions, and the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta and the church of San Michele Arcangelo, where the acoustics enhance the polyphonic writing. The village, perched on the Alban Hills a short distance from Frascati and Rocca Priora, offers an ideal setting: medieval alleys, panoramic terraces overlooking the Roman countryside, and a Castelli food and wine tradition that invites you to linger after the concert.
Why it's worth the trip
It is not a massive commercial festival, and that is precisely its value: the Moreschi Festival is a cozy, free (or voluntary donation) event where you can hear high-level music just a few meters from the performers. For choral music lovers, it is a rare opportunity to hear several different groups in a single evening; for those visiting the Castelli Romani, it is the best way to discover Monte Compatri away from the most beaten tourist paths. The memory of Alessandro Moreschi, the only castrato voice ever recorded, adds a historical depth that few musical events in the Lazio region can boast.
Moreschi Festival — edition 2026
An anniversary edition
2026 marked a double milestone for Monte Compatri: the 18th edition of the Moreschi Festival – In Choir for the Angel of Rome and the twenty-five years of activity of the Alessandro Moreschi Polyphonic Choir, founded in 2001. For the occasion, the Association created a two-part program, with the patronage of the Municipality of Monte Compatri.
May 24 – The four-choir showcase
In the parish of Santa Maria Assunta, four choral groups took turns, each led by a conductor who has directed the Moreschi Choir over these twenty-five years: a musical journey that intertwined different artistic sensibilities, from Renaissance polyphony to contemporary repertoire.
June 21 – "A Stroll through Rome"
At the Teatro Don Narciso Bortolotti, the choir presented an original production that placed Rome itself at the center of the stage, in a journey into the soul of the Capital through narration and music.
Programme Moreschi Festival 2026
Sunday, May 24, 2026 — Santa Maria Assunta Parish, Monte Compatri
Choral showcase for the 25th anniversary of the Alessandro Moreschi Choir, presented by Anna Gentilini, with four groups:
- Alessandro Moreschi Polyphonic Choir – Maestro Adele Rossi
- San Gregorio Magno Polyphonic Choir – Maestro Gabriele Spamp Gabriele Spampinato
- Opus InCanto Polyphonic Choir – Maestro Alessandro Vicari
- Note Controvento Polyphonic Choir – Maestro Luigi Ferrante
Program featuring sacred music (Palestrina, Bach, Verdi), contemporary spirituality, and modern compositions. Finale with the four choirs joined in Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus, conducted by Maestro Alessandro Borghi, co-founder of the choir. Followed by a reception for the public.
Sunday, June 21, 2026 — Teatro Don Narciso Bortolotti, Monte Compatri
"A Stroll through Rome", a theatrical and musical show by the Alessandro Moreschi Polyphonic Choir directed by Maestro Adele Rossi.
- Narrator and texts: Simona Vernì
- Piano: Armando Pinci — Violin: Laura Scipioni
- Set design: Ugolino Cossu — Lighting: Gabriele Tomaselli
- Costumes: Claudia Pasquali — Choreography: Martina Cariello — Graphic design: Armando Guidoni
During the evening, Mayor Francesco Ferri presented the association's president, Claudia Pasquali, with a commemorative parchment for twenty-five years of choral activity.
Highlights Moreschi Festival 2026
- 18th edition of the festival, during the 25th anniversary year of the Alessandro Moreschi Choir
- Four choirs joined on May 24 for Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus
- Original production "A Stroll through Rome" at the Teatro Don Narciso Bortolotti
- Commemorative parchment from the Municipality of Monte Compatri for the association's 25th anniversary
Prices Moreschi Festival 2026
Practical information — Moreschi Festival
Getting there
By car from Rome: GRA exit 21, then via Casilina or via Tuscolana towards Monte Compatri (approx. 30 km, 40 minutes). By train: FL4 line Rome Termini – Frascati or the Monte Compatri-Pantano station on Metro C, then connecting bus to the historic center.
Admission
Concerts are traditionally free admission, unless otherwise indicated by the organizers for theatrical productions. Seating is limited: arriving early is recommended.
Information
Alessandro Moreschi Polyphonic Choir Association – [email protected] – www.coromoreschi.it
Tips
Churches can be cool even in spring: bring a light jacket. After the concert, it is worth stopping at the local taverns in the center for a taste of Castelli Romani cuisine.
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Where does it take place — Moreschi Festival
Teatro Don Narciso Bortolotti e chiese di Monte Compatri