Musica d'Estate - International Music Festival

A classical music festival in the Piedmontese mountains

Every summer for over thirty years, the historic centre of Bardonecchia (Metropolitan City of Turin, Piedmont) has transformed into a widespread stage for classical music. Musica d'Estate is the International Music Festival organised by the Accademia di Musica Foundation of Pinerolo and Turin, reaching its 31st edition in 2026. At 1,300 metres above sea level in the Upper Susa Valley, the festival offers a packed calendar of completely free concerts with no booking required: a rare opportunity to enjoy world-class music in an unspoilt alpine setting.

Three souls, one unique festival

The heart of Musica d'Estate lies in the bond between education and the stage: the festival was born as a high-level musical campus and subsequently opens to the public with its concerts. The programme is divided into three complementary strands:

• Evening concerts in the Sala Giolitti at the Palazzo delle Feste, where great masters perform alongside the most talented students;
• Recitals by award-winning young professionals, hosted in the Church of Sant'Ippolito and the Church of Maria Ausiliatrice;
• Concerts by masterclass students, which bring the town's churches to life every afternoon.

The repertoire ranges from solo piano to chamber music, from Bach to Liszt, and from Schumann to Prokofiev, offering listeners a vast and ever-changing panorama each day.

The festival venues

The concerts take place in some of Bardonecchia's most evocative locations: the Sala Giolitti at the Palazzo delle Feste, a historic building that hosts the evening events, and the Church of Sant'Ippolito and Church of Maria Ausiliatrice, whose intimate acoustics enhance the sound of the instruments. The artistic direction is entrusted to Laura Richaud, with educational coordination by Claudio Voghera.

Music and mountains

What makes Musica d'Estate a unique appointment in the Piedmontese festival landscape is the combination of musical excellence and the mountain setting. Those visiting Bardonecchia in July will find a daily programme of concerts that naturally intertwines with hiking, walking, and the town's vibrant summer life. Supported by the Ministry of Culture, the Piedmont Region, the Municipality of Bardonecchia, and the Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation, the festival is now a benchmark for classical music lovers and those seeking a high-altitude holiday enriched by great music.