Monteverdi Festival, Cremona

Some credit Claudio Monteverdi with godfathering opera, he didn’t invent it, it had been around for a decade or so before he wrote his first, ‘Orfeo’ in 1607, but he certainly shaped and managed its future as a loving and inspired father would.

Monteverdi is one of Cremona’s most famous sons and the town honours him accordingly with an annual three week festival featuring a mix of his own works, which vary from the passionately melancholic and dramatic to 17th Century crowd pleasers and works of those he inspired and mentored.

Second fiddle in Cremona is Andrea Amati, who developed the modern violin right here in the town. The more famous Stradivarius followed Amati and has his own local museum, The Stradivarius Museum, as well as featuring heavily in the Hall of Violins at the Palazzo Communale

Most of the performances, held in May, play at the Teatro Ponchielli, but local historic churches are annexed for the festival. The Ponchielli also manages the festival so contact them for more information on planned performances and booking tickets.

Monteverdi Festival Website (in Italian)

3 / 5 Review by editor Kat Mackintosh

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 Photo by flickr user Bettsy1970

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