ZEBO Concert - Of Love, Hate and Other Stories

A Baroque concert in the Romanesque church of San Giovanni in Montorfano

Among the villages overlooking Lake Mergozzo, in the heart of the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, the Romanesque church of San Giovanni in Montorfano is one of Piedmont's most cherished monuments: a Latin-cross parish church with an octagonal tiburio, nestled in the greenery on the slopes of Montorfano. In this setting, with its unique acoustics and atmosphere, the concert "Of Love, Hate and Other Stories" comes to life, dedicated to 17th-century poetry and love madrigals.

The ZEBO - Zero Emission Baroque Orchestra

The star of the evening is the ZEBO - Zero Emission Baroque Orchestra, a Baroque music ensemble that combines philological research with a strong environmental sensibility: the group operates by offsetting its CO2 emissions, making the Baroque era—characterized by technical innovation, research, and flexibility—a model for ecological living. The 17th-century repertoire, with its expressive intensity, is the ideal terrain to recount human affections: love, hate, jealousy, and desire.

The program: 17th-century poetry and love madrigals

The concert weaves music and words through the madrigals and arias that, at the height of the Baroque period, staged romantic passions. The soprano's voice dialogues with ancient instruments—viola da gamba, harpsichord, organ, and Baroque harp—in a journey that revives the refined taste of 17th-century courts and salons.

Part of the "Mergozzo si Nota" festival

The event is part of "Mergozzo si Nota", the summer festival that enlivens the Municipality of Mergozzo from late May to late August with concerts for every taste, held in the village's squares, porticos, and churches. It is an opportunity to combine the listening of great early music with the discovery of a precious corner of the Lake Maggiore and Ossola territory.

Why it's worth attending

• Baroque music performed on period instruments in a charming Romanesque church.
• A program built around 17th-century poetry and love madrigals.
• Free admission, as part of the "Mergozzo si Nota" festival.
• An evening that combines culture, landscape, and Piedmont's musical tradition.