Turi Belcanto Festival
Turi, the Apulian capital of opera, featuring grand performances and the Belcanto Award
About Belcanto Festival
The Belcanto Festival: Opera in Turi
In the heart of Puglia, nestled among the olive groves and white roads of the Bari Murgia, the Belcanto Festival makes Turi a must-visit destination for opera lovers. Promoted by the Chi È Di Scena Academy under the artistic direction of maestro Ferdinando Redavid, the festival brings operatic productions, concerts of celebrated arias, and performances by established national and international artists to this small town in the Metropolitan City of Bari every summer.
A festival of opera, concerts, and Italian melodies
The festival's format blends the great operatic repertoire with a popular passion for Italian melody. Past editions have featured staged operas—from Cavalleria Rusticana to La Traviata—alongside concert evenings dedicated to beloved arias and classic Italian songs, accompanied by ensembles such as the Orchestra Filarmonica Pugliese and the Orchestra del Taranto Opera Festival. Performances are held outdoors in the evocative settings of Turi's town center, including the Atrio dell'Oratorio on Strada Mola and Piazza Gonnelli, which transform into open-air theaters for the occasion.
The Belcanto Award
A defining moment of the festival is the presentation of the Belcanto Award, an honor bestowed each year upon a musician with ties to Puglia who has distinguished themselves on the operatic stage. Over the years, the award has celebrated artists such as baritone Domenico Colaianni and soprano Rachele Stanisci, both ambassadors of Apulian singing in Italy and abroad. The awards ceremony, often free to attend upon reservation, combines the official presentation with a live performance by the honoree.
Turi: History and Music
Renowned for its cherries and the Grotta di Sant'Oronzo, Turi hosts the festival with the support of the Municipality of Turi and the Puglia Region. Now in its sixteenth edition in 2026, the event has grown over time, with plans to extend the program into the autumn and further establish Turi as a reference point for opera in the Bari province.
Belcanto Festival — edition 2026
The sixteenth edition of the Belcanto Festival confirms Turi as the Apulian capital of opera with three summer evenings and a program that expands in 2026 to include autumn events. The festival is promoted by the Chi È Di Scena Academy under the artistic direction of Ferdinando Redavid, with the patronage of the Municipality of Turi and the support of the Puglia Region.
The program alternates between a grand opening concert, a staged opera, and the traditional Belcanto Award ceremony, this year dedicated to soprano Rachele Stanisci.
Programme Belcanto Festival 2026
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 — 9:00 PM | Atrio dell'Oratorio, Strada Mola
- "The Four Italian Tenors – Un amore così grande": a concert of opera arias and famous Italian melodies with the Orchestra Filarmonica Pugliese, conducted by maestro Lorenzo Bizzarri.
Saturday, August 1, 2026 — 9:00 PM | Atrio dell'Oratorio, Strada Mola
- "La Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi: a production of Verdi's masterpiece, the love story between Violetta and Alfredo, with the Orchestra del Taranto Opera Festival conducted by Ferdinando Redavid.
Monday, August 3, 2026 — 9:00 PM | Piazza Gonnelli
- Presentation of the 2026 Belcanto Award to soprano Rachele Stanisci, featuring a live performance by the artist. Free admission with reserved seating upon booking.
Further autumn events are also announced starting in October, with details to be finalized.
Highlights Belcanto Festival 2026
Prices Belcanto Festival 2026
Practical information — Belcanto Festival
Location
Performances take place in Turi (BA), Puglia, in the open-air spaces of the town center: the Atrio dell'Oratorio on Strada Mola and Piazza Gonnelli. Evenings generally begin at 9:00 PM.
Tickets
Operatic and concert performances are ticketed, with individual tickets and season passes available. Discounts are offered for youth, students, seniors over 65, and people with disabilities. The Belcanto Award evening is typically free to attend, though seats must be reserved in advance.
Information
Organized by the Accademia Chi È Di Scena. For info and reservations, call +39 331 346 0579 or visit the official website at accademiachiediscena.it.
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Where does it take place — Belcanto Festival
Atrio dell'Oratorio
Strada Mola, 70010 Turi