Polifonie - Listening to and Understanding Music (Church of San Francesco al Vomero)

Listening to and understanding music

Polifonie - Listening to and Understanding Music is a series promoted by the Società Polifonica Pietrasanta APS at the Church of San Francesco al Vomero, located at Via Luca Giordano 2 in Naples, Campania. This is not just a standard concert season: each event is structured as a true concert-lecture, featuring brief introductions and explanatory remarks by the conductors before the performances.

The core philosophy is stated in the title itself. Classical music should not be reserved only for those with specialized training: explaining the construction of a polyphonic texture, the interplay of imitations between voices, and the relationship between poetic text and melodic line allows anyone to engage with a repertoire that might otherwise seem distant. The audience is not tested; they are guided.

The 2026 Edition Program

The first series of events took place in the Vomero district between April and May 2026, always at 7:30 PM:

• Friday, April 17 - Musica Poetica: The La Vaga Aurora Vocal Ensemble, conducted and presented by Rosario Peluso, featuring a journey through early vocal music including Renaissance madrigals, works by Monteverdi, and Flemish masters.
• Tuesday, April 28 - Voices from the Short Century: The Coro della Pietrasanta, also conducted by Rosario Peluso, dedicated to 20th-century a cappella choral music and the composers who defined the last century's choral scene, with illustrations of compositional techniques and expressive choices.
• Thursday, May 28 - Musical Moments: The Anemos Ensemble, a recorder group conducted by Concetta Pellegrino, with music spanning the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.

The Società Polifonica Pietrasanta

The Coro della Pietrasanta was founded in the late 1990s by a group of teachers and university students from Naples. Today, it operates as a social promotion association specializing in a cappella performance, with a repertoire ranging from the Renaissance and Baroque to contemporary music. Other groups revolve around the choir, such as the La Vaga Aurora Vocal Ensemble and the Anemos recorder ensemble, allowing the series to alternate between voices and instruments within the same cultural project.

The Church of San Francesco al Vomero

The venue for the spring events is the Church of San Francesco d'Assisi al Vomero, on Via Luca Giordano, just a few steps from Piazza Vanvitelli. The building also features a panoramic cloister overlooking the sea, adding a special value to the evening beyond the music itself. The hilly Vomero district is one of the city's most vibrant areas, well-connected by funiculars and Metro Line 1, making the evening schedule convenient for those arriving from the city center or the province of Naples.

The continuation of the series

Polifonie did not stop at Vomero: the series continued in June 2026 at the Basilica of San Pietro ad Aram, on Via Santa Candida, with two events—June 13 with the Anemos Ensemble and June 17 with the Coro della Pietrasanta—both preceded by a free guided tour curated by the Franciscan community. On the evening of June 17, the world premiere of Soles, a piece composed by Rosario Peluso himself, was performed.

Admission and Audience

All events offer free admission until capacity is reached: a choice consistent with the project's educational mission, which aims to bring polyphonic repertoire closer to non-specialist audiences, students, and local residents. Those with choral experience who wish to join the group can contact the association, which is always looking for new voices.