Perosi Festival

A festival dedicated to Lorenzo Perosi in his hometown of Tortona

The Perosi Festival is the musical event that transforms Tortona, in the heart of the Alessandria province in Piedmont, into a capital of sacred and symphonic music every year. The festival pays tribute to Lorenzo Perosi (1872–1956), the priest and composer from Tortona who served as Master of the Sistine Chapel and was one of the most prominent voices in Italian sacred music at the turn of the 20th century. Promoted by the Diocese of Tortona, the festival has grown into a landmark event for classical and spiritual repertoire within the town and the entire Derthona area.

The 2016 revival and the "Grand Anniversary" of 2026

Following a long tradition linked to Perosi's name, the festival entered a new era in 2016, creating a path that combines high-profile concerts, a focus on young musicians, and deep roots in the local community. The 2026 edition holds special significance: it celebrates the 70th anniversary of Lorenzo Perosi's death and the tenth anniversary of the festival's new course, as part of a project that establishes Tortona as a true "City of Music".

The program between the Cathedral and historic churches

Perosi Festival concerts are held in the city's most evocative venues: the monumental Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and San Lorenzo in Piazza Duomo, historic churches in the city center like Santa Maria Canale, and the Cittadella dello Sport for larger-scale events. A hallmark of the festival is its collaboration with Italian Conservatory Orchestras, bringing the excellence of the most promising emerging talents to the city.

The 2026 spring-summer preview

For 2026, the festival featured a spring-summer preview consisting of three concerts—two symphonic and one chamber—anticipating the traditional autumn cycle:

• May 19, 2026 — Symphony Orchestra of the "Giuseppe Verdi" Conservatory of Turin, conducted by Maestro Giuseppe Ratti, at the Cittadella dello Sport (9:00 PM).
• May 24, 2026 — Symphony Orchestra of the "G. Cantelli" Conservatory of Novara, conducted by Maestro Nicola Paszkowski, in the Cathedral (6:00 PM), featuring music by Mozart, Ravel, and Martucci.
• June 24, 2026 — Chamber concert in the Church of Santa Maria Canale (9:15 PM).

Music for everyone, with free admission

One of the defining features of the Perosi Festival is its accessibility: thanks to the contribution of local banking foundations, all concerts offer free admission, with reservations recommended but not mandatory. This choice reflects the spirit of a festival designed as a shared heritage for the city and the province of Alessandria, capable of uniting devotion, high musical culture, and the promotion of Piedmont.