Opening concert of the Festival Art and Music between Pelmo and Civetta

In the heart of Val di Zoldo, where the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites frame villages rich in history, the church of San Nicolò in Fusine houses one of the most surprising treasures of Italian organ art.

Here, the public is invited to experience a blend of music, historical heritage, and craftsmanship, rediscovering the authentic sound of an instrument that represents an almost unique case in the European scene.

The concert From London to Naples. Royals, courts, and cathedrals takes listeners on a journey through the great musical centers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, dialoguing cultures, styles, and sensitivities that have contributed to the history of European music.

The star of the evening is the precious organ built around 1798 by Agostino De Marco, an organ builder from Val di Zoldo.

The instrument is renowned for a truly exceptional characteristic: almost all of its pipes are made of wood, including those of the façade, many of which feature a rare cylindrical section.

This construction solution, the result of the technical skill and deep knowledge of materials by the maker, gives the organ a warm, soft, and extraordinarily original timbre.

This is a true masterpiece of local craftsmanship, which still attracts the interest of musicians, organ builders, and scholars from all over Europe.

The history of this instrument also tells the story of the valley.

For centuries, the forests of Zoldo provided the timber for the construction of organs, buildings, and boats of the Serenissima, while the iron worked in local forges contributed to the creation of the sophisticated mechanics of musical instruments.

The Fusine organ represents one of the highest expressions of this heritage of knowledge, born from the meeting of natural resources, craftsmanship, and artistic sensitivity.

Giving voice to this extraordinary instrument will be Freddie James, a young British organist renowned for his expertise in the Renaissance and Baroque repertoire and for his attention to historical instruments.

The program offers a musical journey that ideally connects London and Naples, featuring music by Byrd, Stanley, Purcell, Scarlatti, and Cirri.

The compositions testify to the richness of a season in which the different musical schools constantly dialogued, creating a language capable of uniting the elegance of the English tradition, the brilliance of Italian styles, and the solemnity of music intended for the great churches of the continent.

The listening experience takes on a special value precisely because the repertoire is performed on an instrument contemporary to the music being played and perfectly suited to the space for which it was conceived.

The acoustics of the church of San Nicolò, combined with the unmistakable voice of the De Marco organ, indeed allows us to capture colors, dynamics, and sound nuances that would be difficult to reproduce in a modern concert hall.

Participating in this event means allowing oneself to be guided through a journey that goes beyond the concert.

The visit to the church of San Nicolò, the discovery of one of the most extraordinary historical organs of Val di Zoldo, and the listening to a repertoire performed by a specialized interpreter transforms into an experience capable of telling the cultural identity of the valley.

Amid art, music, and landscape, the public is invited to rediscover a heritage that continues to live through the sound of its historical instruments, offering a unique opportunity to learn about one of the most fascinating corners of the Dolomites.

Free entry.