Alta Badia. Carried Away

Even if you’re not a huge fan of classical music, sometimes the environment has the ability to carry you away. Alta Badia has that charm and the Merano music festival is a chance to experience classical music in an enchanting setting.

Established in 1986, the Merano music festival began as a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the spa town.  The public quickly embraced the festival and the halls had to close their doors to the public crowding outside for a listen.  In 1994 it made history again, when the London Symphony Orchestra’s concert in Verona was cancelled and president Hermann Schnitzer and the Art Director Andreas Cappello quickly made the decision to host the orchestra at the festival.  Attendance records were again broken as the world-class orchestra performed in the town of roughly 36,000.

Although the organizers are willing to take risks, only the best are invited to perform in the Kursaal. The City of Birmingham Orchestra, the Russian National Orchestra, and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra have all graced the stages of the Merano Kursaal. This year opens with the Cleveland Orchestra under the direction of Franz Welser.  Highlights will include London’s Royal Philharmonic performance on the fourth of September under Pinchas Zukerman, and the return of the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic.

There are several alternative programmes that have been added to the schedule, including a “Sax Machine” virtuoso music comedy show from Parisians Les Désaxés. The line up for the Matinée, Colours of Music and Soireen, offer an even wider range of performances. Ensembles playing at the festival include a little bit of everything, ranging from Russian to Turkish to Swedish.

The Merano music festival takes place from the 24th of August to the 27th of September, for a full line-up visit www.meranofestival.com.

Just east of the city of Merano is the Lagació Mountian Resort.  Sure, Merano is a spa town, but it’s got nothing on the treatments available at Lagació.  Combine the music festival with a stay at the resort and you’ll be transported to another level.

—

Categories: Alta Badia – Italy, Culture, Events

Contributing writer: Alicia Reuter