Orta Festival

A classical music festival in the heart of Lake Orta

The Orta Festival is one of the most beloved classical and chamber music events in Piedmont. Every summer, the festival transforms the village of Orta San Giulio, in the province of Novara, into a small paradise for classical music lovers, with concerts hosted in two venues of extraordinary beauty: the Basilica on San Giulio Island, accessible by boat, and the Church of S. Maria Assunta, the parish church that dominates the historic center.

The 2026 edition marks the 26th year of the festival, organized by the Associazione Musicale Florestano-Eusebio of Bollate under the artistic direction of Maestro Amedeo Monetti, former director of the Teatro Filarmonico in Verona. Over more than two decades, the festival has brought hundreds of internationally acclaimed musicians to Lake Orta.

The 2026 program: seven concerts from July 3rd to 19th

The 2026 season features seven concerts, from July 3rd to 19th, alternating between the festival's chamber orchestra and refined soloists:

• Friday, July 3rd, 8:30 PM — Basilica of San Giulio: Opening concert with the Orta Festival Orchestra conducted by Amedeo Monetti, featuring Hans Liviabella on violin, Mattia Petrilli on flute, and Michele Barchi on harpsichord (music by Schubert and Bach).
• Sunday, July 5th, 9:00 PM — Church of S. Maria Assunta: Rossano Sportiello on piano and Alfredo Ferrario on clarinet, in a program where classical music meets swing.
• Friday, July 10th, 9:00 PM — Church of S. Maria Assunta: Aleksandar Madžar on piano and Matteo Pigato on cello (Scarlatti, Schumann, Debussy, Rachmaninov).
• Saturday, July 11th, 9:00 PM — Church of S. Maria Assunta: The Sheliak Trio with a program for piano trio (C.P.E. Bach, Haydn, Schumann).
• Wednesday, July 15th, 8:30 PM — Basilica of San Giulio: Jean Rondeau on harpsichord, a tribute to the 400th anniversary of Louis Couperin (L. Couperin, Rameau, F. Couperin, Royer).
• Friday, July 17th, 9:00 PM — Church of S. Maria Assunta: Bruno Canino and Raffaella Damaschi in a piano duo (Schubert, Brahms, Bach-Kurtág, Kurtág, Fauré).
• Sunday, July 19th, 8:30 PM — Basilica of San Giulio: Closing concert with a string ensemble (Mozart and Brahms).

Two exceptional venues

What makes the Orta Festival unique is its setting. The Basilica on San Giulio Island, an ancient monastic complex at the center of the lake, can only be reached by boat and offers incomparable acoustics and atmosphere. The Church of S. Maria Assunta, in the village of Orta San Giulio, completes the experience with its intimate and solemn spaces. The village, considered one of the most beautiful in Italy, provides a stunning backdrop for the entire event.

Musical tradition of Lake Orta

The Orta Festival is part of the rich musical tradition of the Cusio and Lake Orta region, a territory in Piedmont known for its landscape and vibrant summer cultural scene. The festival is supported by local entities and represents a staple for tourists and music lovers who choose Orta San Giulio every summer as a destination for their journey through music and nature.