Paolo Fresu and Pier Paolo Vacca Concert

Paolo Fresu and Pier Paolo Vacca in Susa

The Castello di Adelaide, the historic heart of Susa in the province of Turin, hosts one of the most anticipated musical events of the Susa Valley summer: a concert by the duo Paolo Fresu and Pier Paolo Vacca. Beneath the walls of the castle commissioned by Countess Adelaide of Susa, the audience will witness a rare encounter between two generations and two musical worlds that converse with natural ease.

Two instruments, two traditions

Paolo Fresu, an internationally acclaimed Sardinian trumpeter and flugelhorn player, is a leading figure in European jazz: with hundreds of albums to his name, collaborations with musicians from every continent, and a career that has brought Italian jazz to stages worldwide. Joining him is Pier Paolo Vacca, a young organetto player who grew up in the Nuoro area. Having studied the diatonic accordion since childhood, he has transformed it into an instrument capable of reaching far beyond traditional dance music.

The Travessu project

The dialogue between Fresu and Vacca stems from the Travessu project, Vacca's debut album released on Etnotùk, a sub-label of the Tùk record company founded by Fresu himself and dedicated to traditional and ethnic music. The Sardinian term literally means "the reverse": the music starts from the dances and rituals of Sardinian tradition, only to be overturned and remixed, projected toward new expressive forms through improvisation and the thoughtful use of electronics. The result is a sound suspended between world music, jazz, and folk memory.

Part of Borgate dal Vivo

The concert is part of the eleventh edition of Borgate dal Vivo, the traveling festival organized by the Revejo association that brings music, theater, and performances to dozens of villages and towns across the provinces of Turin and Cuneo. Susa, with its Castello di Adelaide, is a landmark location for the festival, which also features collaborations here with the Teatro Stabile di Torino. The event is also part of the rich summer calendar that the City of Susa hosts from late May to late September, featuring concerts, shows, sports, and traditions.

Why it is worth the trip

Attending a Paolo Fresu concert in a historic setting like the Castello di Adelaide means combining great music with heritage: the Susa Valley, the gateway to the Alps and a crossroads of cultures, offers the ideal backdrop for an evening that bridges Sardinia and Piedmont, tradition and innovation. A precious opportunity for those who love borderless jazz and singer-songwriter music.