THE SOUNDS OF THE DOLOMITES FESTIVAL 2019

Every summer, the Trentino region in northern Italy hosts dozens of live open-air concerts as part of the spectacular Sounds of the Dolomites music festival, where international artists perform a varied programme of jazz, classical and world music on natural, open-air stages in the woodlands, meadows and forests of the Dolomites. This year the festival will return to celebrate its 25th edition, running for extended dates from 28th June to 15th September.

This special anniversary edition of the Sounds of the Dolomites will also include opera for the first time and Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) will be the first entire opera performed at 2,000 metres above sea level, in a spectacular performance heightened by the unique acoustics offered by the mountain setting.

The region’s stunning landscapes form the perfect natural backdrop for each live performance as grand pianos are played in open meadows and full steel drum bands perform at the foot of the Brenta Dolomites. Trentino mountain guides also lead concert-goers on scenic routes passing through forests, mountain pathways and rural pastures to reach their event.

The festival programme begins with an exclusive three-day trek, where hikers trek through the Dolomites accompanied by Italy’s renowned cellist and composer, Giovanni Sollima, and Avi Avital, the grammy-nominated mandolinist, who will be joining the trek as special guests. The trek will take place from Friday 28th – Sunday 30th June during which the musicians will perform at different spots throughout the journey. Tickets for the trek cost €420 and include two nights’ accommodation. Tickets are available from 15th April from www.fassa.com.

While the majority of concerts in the programme begin at either noon or dusk, Sounds of the Dolomites also presents Dawn in the Dolomites, a set of sunrise concerts beginning at 6am. These include a classical performance on Saturday 20th July where visitors to take the Col Margherita cable car to San Pellegrino to reach the secluded spot where the performance will take place.

Further festival highlights include a special Madonna di Campiglio week from 1st – 7th September which features a different performance will take place each day in Madonna di Campiglio, renowned for being one of Trentino’s best ski resorts in winter and a stunning hiking hotspot during summer. This year the Madonna di Campiglio week events programme has a Brazilian theme, with musicians capturing the sounds and rhythms of Brazil each day.

The Madonna di Campiglio week also has its very own three-day trek, taking place from 1st – 3rd September which explores Pinzolo and Val di Rendena, taking in the area’s beautiful flora and fauna accompanied by four cellists. The young Irish musician Naomi Berrill will be joined by esteemed Italian cellist Mario Brunello, Dimos Goudaroulis from Greece and Walter Vestidello from Treviso in Italy. Tickets cost €390 and are available from 17th June at www.campigliodolomiti.it/specialweek

The region of Trentino in northern Italy runs from the northern shore of Lake Garda to the Dolomites mountains, where visitors can travel from the Mediterranean to the alpine in less than an hour. Its vast natural landscape is complete with nature parks, lakes, waterfalls and canyons, an adventure playground for those who enjoy nature and the outdoors. Trentino therefore provides the perfect setting for this atmospheric music festival which is the jewel in the region’s events calendar crown, so those looking to experience the nature, culture and music Italy has to offer need look no further than Sounds of the Dolomites in Trentino this summer.

The Dolomites are located in the northern Italian Alps and feature some of the most beautiful mountain landscapes in the world. The range features 18 peaks which rise to above 3,000 metres and cover an area of 141,903 hectares and this year marks ten years since the Dolomites were declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

For more information on Sounds of the Dolomites and to view the full programme: isuonidelledolomiti.it/en