New Year's Concert

Martina Franca's Musical New Year

Every January 1st, the city of Martina Franca, a Baroque jewel of the Valle d'Itria in the province of Taranto, greets the New Year with its New Year's Concert. Promoted by the Paolo Grassi Foundation in collaboration with the Municipality of Martina Franca, this event has become a consolidated tradition and one of the most anticipated moments in the city's calendar.

Piazza XX Settembre, the heart of the celebration

The setting is the scenic Piazza XX Settembre, the famous "Stradone" overlooking the historic center: an open-air theater where locals and visitors gather on the first afternoon of the new year to share a moment of collective beauty. Admission is always free, in keeping with the Foundation's commitment to combining artistic quality with popular accessibility.

The ICO Magna Grecia Orchestra

The absolute star is the ICO Magna Grecia Orchestra, a leading Apulian symphonic ensemble, joined each year by prominent conductors and soloists from the opera world. The repertoire follows the tradition of the great Viennese New Year's concerts, alternating famous Strauss family waltzes and polkas with brilliant symphonic pieces and the most beloved opera arias from the Italian and international repertoire.

A bond with the Festival della Valle d'Itria

The New Year's Concert is an expression of the vibrant musical season that the Paolo Grassi Foundation brings to life all year round in Martina Franca, a city known worldwide for its prestigious Festival della Valle d'Itria. The January 1st event ideally represents the opening of the musical year, a ritual that unites cultural identity, a sense of community, and a love for great music.

Why attend

• Free admission in the heart of Martina Franca's historic center
• A live symphony orchestra with exceptional soloists
• A program ranging from Viennese waltzes to opera arias
• The festive atmosphere of the first day of the year in Piazza XX Settembre