Suoni ad Alta Quota
The MusicaMente music festival in the village of Gangi
About Suoni ad Alta Quota
A festival in the heart of the Madonie
Suoni ad Alta Quota is a music festival held in Gangi, one of Italy's most beautiful villages nestled in the Madonie mountains in the province of Palermo. The event is organized by the MusicaMente association of Palermo, with artistic direction by multi-instrumentalist Alessandro Nasello, and was created with the aim of combining high-quality music with the promotion of the local area.
The title evokes both the altitude of the town, perched over a thousand meters high on Monte Marone, and the artistic ambition of the proposal: to bring a refined program to a small town in the Sicilian hinterland, capable of spanning from ancient and baroque music to jazz, as well as singer-songwriter and international repertoires.
Concert venues
Each event engages with a symbolic location in Gangi's historic center, transforming churches, clubs, and squares into open-air concert halls. Venues hosting the festival include:
- the evocative Chiesa della Badia, the traditional home of the inaugural concert;
- the Circolo Mazzini, in the heart of the village;
- Piazzetta Bongiorno, a scenic setting for evening concerts;
- the central Piazza del Popolo, which hosts the most popular events.
A multidisciplinary approach
The program weaves together different musical languages: Nasello's recorder and baroque bassoon, the harpsichord, the viola da gamba, and the violin of the 17th and 18th-century repertoire, the jazz saxophone, and tributes to great music such as the one dedicated to Milva. The festival collaborates with organizations like the Omnia Festival del Tempo and is part of local cultural promotion projects.
A free event for everyone
Admission to all concerts is free, in line with the festival's mission to spread musical culture and bring the public closer to the village's heritage. It is an opportunity to discover Gangi, its traditions, and its alleys, accompanied by great music in the heart of inland Sicily.
Suoni ad Alta Quota — edition 2026
Suoni ad Alta Quota 2026
The 2026 edition opens on Saturday, May 31, at 6:30 PM, in the Chiesa della Badia with "Polistrumentismo - il segreto del Barocco" (Multi-instrumentalism - the secret of the Baroque), featuring Alessandro Nasello (recorder and baroque bassoon) and Cinzia Guarino (harpsichord) on a journey through the sounds of early music and the rich European baroque repertoire.
The program continues on June 12, at 7:30 PM, at the Circolo Mazzini with "Affetti in movimento" (Moving Affections), a concert by Marco Lo Cicero (viola da gamba) and Sara Bagnati (violin) dedicated to the 17th and 18th-century repertoire and ancient folk dances. On June 13, at 11:15 PM, Piazzetta Bongiorno hosts "Sax-o-phon: la voce del sig. sax" (Sax-o-phon: the voice of Mr. Sax) with Luciano Inguaggiato (saxophone) and Alessandro Valenza (piano), blending jazz and 20th-century music.
The grand finale takes place on August 27, at 9:00 PM, in Piazza del Popolo with "Milva: da Berlino a Broadway" (Milva: from Berlin to Broadway), a tribute to the great artist with Debora Troia (vocals), Tobia Vaccaro (classical guitar), Dario Compagna (clarinet), and Francesco Farinella (accordion). All concerts have free admission.
Programme Suoni ad Alta Quota 2026
- May 31, 6:30 PM - Chiesa della Badia: "Polistrumentismo - il segreto del Barocco" - Alessandro Nasello (recorder, baroque bassoon), Cinzia Guarino (harpsichord)
- June 12, 7:30 PM - Circolo Mazzini: "Affetti in movimento" - Marco Lo Cicero (viola da gamba), Sara Bagnati (violin)
- June 13, 11:15 PM - Piazzetta Bongiorno: "Sax-o-phon: la voce del sig. sax" - Luciano Inguaggiato (saxophone), Alessandro Valenza (piano)
- August 27, 9:00 PM - Piazza del Popolo: "Milva: da Berlino a Broadway" - Debora Troia (vocals), Tobia Vaccaro (guitar), Dario Compagna (clarinet), Francesco Farinella (accordion)
Highlights Suoni ad Alta Quota 2026
- Baroque inaugural concert in the Chiesa della Badia
- Tribute to Milva in Piazza del Popolo
- Four free concerts in the village of Gangi
- Artistic direction by Alessandro Nasello
Prices Suoni ad Alta Quota 2026
Practical information — Suoni ad Alta Quota
Getting there
Gangi is located in the Madonie hinterland, in the province of Palermo. By car, it can be reached from the A19 Palermo-Catania motorway (Tremonzelli or Irosa exit) by continuing along provincial roads; the village is about two hours from Palermo and Catania. The nearest train station is in Castelbuono or Cefalù, which are connected by bus services.
Admission
Admission to all festival concerts is free. It is recommended to arrive early to secure a seat, especially in indoor venues like the Chiesa della Badia.
Tips
Gangi is one of the "Borghi più belli d'Italia" (Most Beautiful Villages in Italy): we recommend combining the concerts with a visit to the historic center, the Torre dei Ventimiglia, and the town's monumental churches.
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Where does it take place — Suoni ad Alta Quota
Chiesa della Badia, Circolo Mazzini, Piazzetta Bongiorno, Piazza del Popolo