Everything is ready for the big event in Baveno from 2nd to 12th July 2009, in the form of the twelfth edition of the Umberto Giordano Festival, the prestigious festival which brings music, poetry and art together. Over the years the festival, dedicated to composer Umberto Giordano who spent long periods of work and many holidays in Baveno itself, has extended its interests to different art forms as well as classical music, there is also space for poetry, theatre and art.

The binding theme for this year's edition will be musical painting. The colours of music, looking at various artistic directions which can be appreciated by the public in the form of concerts, displays and representations, under the artistic direction of Raffaella Valsecchi. Starting from the connection with the composer Umberto Giordano, who chose Baveno as his Lake home, the Baveno Festival 2009 will be characterised by a thread which places music and painting side by side.

Thirteen concerts, four of which will be performed in the late afternoon a kind of musical happy hour aimed at young people in particular. Two of them will see performances by students of the Milan and Turin Conservatori [Schools of Music] and a series of collateral events where painting and photography will be presented together with music, creating an unforgettable atmosphere for all, from youths to tourists from art experts to novicesA double homage to Umberto Giordano has also been scheduled in the form of two song recitals performed by the voices of Massimo Crispi and Stella Doz, as well as a cycle of five dates entitled I colori della musica (the colours of Music), dedicated to instruments painted in the most original ways. Photos of these instruments will be projected on Baveno's buildings. Two musts for this festival are the commemorative concerts dedicated to Haydn (200 years since his death) and Rota (who died thirty years ago) entitled Il 2009 ci ricorda (2009 remembers us).

The festival will be held in Baveno, Feriolo and Stresa, with free concerts and others with a fee payable, some in the afternoon and morning, but with the main events starting at 9.15pm. Accompanying the classical music concerts will be light shows, videos and sounds from Baveno's buildings, as well as the display 12 years of the Giordano Festival on display at the Sala Consiliare of Palazzo Municipale di Baveno [Town Hall] and edited by Sebastiano Romano, dedicated to the great composer.

The Baveno Festival 2009 will take place between Thursday 2nd and Sunday 12th July. An entry ticket covering all Festival events is on sale at €70.00 at the Baveno Tourist Office| an adult ticket for individual events costs €16.00, concessions (under 30s and over 65s, military) €11.00.

For information and bookings: Città di Baveno, Ufficio TurismoFrom Monday to Saturday: 9,30 - 12,30 15.00 - 18.00
Tel and fax 0323.924632
turismo.baveno@ruparpiemonte.it
www.festivalgiordano.it