Palermo Classica – Winter Season at the Steri

A classical music season in the heart of Palermo

The Palermo Classica Winter Season is the winter concert series promoted by the Palermo Classica Association at the Steri Monumental Complex, the historic seat of the University of Palermo overlooking Piazza Marina in the Kalsa district. From December until the beginning of spring, about twenty events bring the great classical and romantic repertoire to the city, with a special focus on piano and chamber music. This winter festival complements the association's more famous summer program, offering the Palermo public a high-quality, continuous musical journey.

The venues: the Steri, where art meets history

The concerts take place in two fascinating spaces within the monumental complex at Piazza Marina 59: the Sala delle Verifiche, a grand hall that once served as the seat of the Inquisition Tribunal, and the Church of Sant'Antonio Abate. The intimate acoustics and the atmosphere of these historic sites make every performance a unique experience, where music dialogues with the medieval and Renaissance architecture of the Chiaromonte-Steri palace.

Composers in Dialogue

The central theme of the series is the «Composers in Dialogue» project, a cycle that brings together authors from different eras, schools, and musical languages, ranging from Viennese classicism to romanticism and twentieth-century works. Each program is curated as a comparison, juxtaposing scores that highlight analogies and contrasts between the great names in music history. It is a musical journey «between different eras and cultures» that celebrates both core repertoire staples and rediscovered gems.

The performers

The Winter Season hosts pianists and musicians from all over the world, alternating between world-renowned soloists and emerging young talents. Recent editions have featured artists such as Andrey Gugnin, Joseph-Maurice Weder, Cristian Budu, Sofia Vasheruk, Kristina Miller, Rexa Han, and Wei-Ting Hsieh, alongside chamber ensembles and four-hand recitals. The season also engages the university community through the UniSonus Palermo initiative, the university's polyphonic choir.

A partnership with the University of Palermo

The series is born from the collaboration between Palermo Classica and the University of Palermo (UniPa), which provides the Steri's spaces and promotes music as a universal language and a tool for the city's cultural growth. The university community enjoys dedicated benefits, including free tickets and discounts for students, faculty, and staff.

A must-attend event for the city

Embedded in the rich musical landscape of Palermo and Sicily, the Palermo Classica Winter Season is a landmark for classical music enthusiasts in the Sicilian capital. It is a season that combines artistic excellence, the preservation of monumental heritage, and openness to the city, confirming the Steri as one of the most evocative venues for classical music in the province of Palermo.