It is not always necessary to travel a millennium into the past in order to understand the true nature of musical archaeology.

In the middle of the 1800s, Europe was devastated by revolution. Music, as well, found itself undergoing a radical metamorphosis with the Belcanto movement.

This festival has been celebrated for many years with instrumental historians of Simon Mayer and Gaetano Donzietti returning the unmistakable original colours to selected operas.

The execution of such compositions on their original instruments is nothing short of extremely difficult but provides the audience with unmatched authenticity.

First Flute: Paola Bonora