Voci Vicine 2.0: A Musical Inquiry into the Tragedies of Our Time

n 27 July, at 9.30 p.m. in Teatro Ristori in Cividale del Friuli, Voci Vicine 2.0, will be staged, a unique event combining the investigative words of journalist Luciana Coluccello and the music of Fabio Cifarello Ciardi performed by the Icarus Ensemble. A multitude of voices will denounce the tragedies of our time, from climate change to labour and social problems.

An original creation in which the journalist-narrator, the instrumental ensemble and a multitude of voices and faces tell, denounce and shout out the recurring tragedies of our time. A haphazard chorus of appeals, denunciations and invectives, often composed of short videos scattered on the net, will merge with Ciardi’s music, creating an intense and engaging experience.

The event will be led by journalist Luciana Coluccello, who will guide the audience through the stories and images presented. The voices of an Italy and a Europe reacting and rebelling will join the music, also performed by the Croatian Cantus Ansambl, to offer a show of great emotional impact.

Don’t miss this premiere on 27 July at 21:30.

Quartetto per la Fine del Tempo di Messiaen: A Masterpiece at Mittelfest

On 27 July, at 7 pm, in the Church of San Francesco, Mittelfest, in collaboration with the Sergio Gaggia Music Association, presents Quartetto per la fine del tempo. This performance, one of the most celebrated works of chamber music of the 20th century, will be an unmissable event for music lovers.

Composed between late 1940 and early 1941 in the Görlitz concentration camp in present-day Poland, where Messiaen was interned, the quartet is a powerful and moving testimony to the extreme conditions in which it was born. The first performance took place in the camp itself, before an audience of prisoners and guards, a context that adds further emotional depth to the work.

The score opens with a passage from the tenth chapter of the Apocalypse of St. John: ‘And I saw an angel full of power descending from heaven, enveloped in a cloud, […] saying: “There shall be no more Time; but on the day of the seventh angel’s trumpet the mystery of God shall be fulfilled”’. This biblical reference introduces a work that, in the face of the abysses and turmoil of war, opens up a mystical glimpse and questions the problem of time from a theological, philosophical and musical perspective.

Don’t miss the opportunity to attend this extraordinary performance on 27 July at 7 p.m., an event that promises to offer an unforgettable musical and spiritual experience.

Quartetto per la fine del tempo: a musical journey into the mystery of time

With a passage from the tenth chapter of the Apocalypse of St John, the score of one of the most famous chamber music works of the 20th century opens. ‘And I saw an angel full of power descending from heaven, enveloped in a cloud, […] saying: “There will be no more time; but on the day of the seventh angel’s trumpet the mystery of God will be fulfilled”’. Composed between late 1940 and early 1941 in the concentration camp of Görlitz, in present-day Poland, where Olivier Messiaen was interned, Quartetto per la fine del tempo was first performed in the camp itself, before an audience of prisoners and guards.

This inexhaustible work, in the face of the abysses and turmoil of war, opens up a mystical glimpse and questions, in theological, philosophical and musical terms, precisely the problem of time. On 27 July, Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time, performed for violin, clarinet, cello and piano, will be co-produced by Mittelfest with the Sergio Gaggia Music Association, offering a rare opportunity to hear this extraordinary composition that has profoundly marked the history of 20th century music.

Paradiž: an exciting fairy tale without words

A unique theatrical masterpiece. On 28 July at 19.15 in its national premiere, Mittelfest presents Paradiž, a sweet and bitter comedy directed by renowned Italian director Matteo Spiazzi and staged by the extraordinary actors of SLG Celje.

Set in an old people’s home in a small Slovenian town, Paradiž explores the intertwined lives of the elderly residents, addressing universal themes of exclusion, isolation, loneliness, and physical and mental illness. This story, inspired by real events, unfolds without the use of words, but through an evocative play of masks in the manner of commedia dell’arte, offering an intense and moving reflection on life and its regrets and missed opportunities.

A contemporary fable that celebrates life even as it nears the end of its timeline. It is a show that invites you to sit back and look at the world through the eyes of its characters, just as if you were looking through the window of a comfortable armchair, immersing yourself in a narrative that, though wordless, speaks directly to the heart.

Mindbowing: The ThreeX’s musical innovation in Italy for the first time

On 28 July at 4 pm, at the Chiesa di San Francesco, the trio The ThreeX will present Mindbowing for the first time in Italy. With two violins and a grand piano, this show will revolutionise all expectations, exploding into a whirlwind of dance, circus and pantomime. The performance mixes Mozart and rock’n’roll, tango, soundtracks and pop hits into an irrepressible blend. Expect to see a violinist juggling, a tuba player on the piano, a pianist playing the flute and a violinist dancing in a tutu and moonwalking. When the ThreeX are on stage, nothing is as it seems. This national debut show is designed for all ages and promises to thrill both those who frequent concert halls less and classical music lovers alike.

Below is the information to apply for a ticket refund, which can be made as follows:

At the Festival box office in Borgo di Ponte in Cividale del Friuli from Monday, July 22 to Wednesday, July 24 with the following hours 11/13 – 17/21.

or

By communicating bye-mail to biglietteriamittelfest@gmail.com the code of the ticket purchased online (Tlite0112….. ) from Monday, July 22 to Wednesday, July 24 with indicated, last name, seat number, date of purchase and iban.

Here are the winners of Mittelyoung 2024 who will take the stage at Mittelfest Disordini from July 20 to 22, 2024!

The choice of the curatores

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The choice of the Jury

MITTELYOUNG AWARDS 2024

Jury
Alberto Bevilacqua
Veronika Brvar
Roberto Canziani
Elisa Marcon

If you can’t find a spot for the shows in Piazza Duomo, contact the ticket office!

On July 19th, the curtain rises with the traditional inaugural concert:  Happy concert,, a production that will take place in Piazza Duomo, featuring the FVG Orchestra and Lucy Landymore on percussion, the duo Igudesman & Joo, with Aleksey Igudesman on violin and Hyung-ki Joo on piano, for a true musical zapping from Mozart to the Beatles, with instruments transforming into something entirely new.

The Family Project also begins: four events that unite all the festival’s disciplines, plus a new and truly unmissable event.

With the Family Project, adults enter for just €10, while children aged 6 to 12 pay only €2. The youngest ones, under 6 years old, enter for free! Just book in advance through the ticket office.

It all starts on July 20th with Uno spettacolo by Circo all’inCirca, inspired by the work of Hervé Tullet, featuring the young artists of the group for an interactive journey through shapes, colors, and rhythms, inviting spectators to be amazed in a crescendo of acrobatics, music, and joy.

Meanwhile, on Sunday the 21st, we present Loutkoviště (Pupazzi): the Bohemian company specializing in interactive installations, Waxwing Theatre and Art Prometheus, will set up a fantastic and surprising “puppet playground” at Parco della Lesa with endless stories to play and discover, following an ancient Czech tradition. Children and adults can play (free entry) with improvisation across five stages and over sixty puppets, ready to transform into fantastic tales. At the park, face painting and cotton candy await you for an unforgettable Sunday morning!

Also, on Sunday the 21st at 17:30, join us for Danger, where a pair of modern jesters, Compagnia Due, present a wordless clown show rich in humor, poetry, and slapstick. Amidst dangers and chaotic situations, the two protagonists show us how to face fear and uncertainty with surprising solutions and comedy. Suitable for all ages, this show combines bold theatrics, refined comedy, and improvisation, offering a lighthearted and courageous experience.

In the first weekend, COSMORAMA by Nicola Galli, on July 20th and 21st, will offer a dance experience in nature, reversing the hierarchy of the gaze to “dance the landscape.”

On July 20th, Negotiating Peace hits the stage, a major international co-production involving nine countries (Kosovo, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, Estonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Norway, USA/Serbia), written by Kosovar Jeton Neziraj and directed by Blerta Neziraj. In its national premiere, right after its debut in Kosovo, it will present a sharp and uncomfortable comedy on the much-acclaimed peace processes in the current war-torn context, highlighting how peace negotiations often close one conflict to open another.

Pelagos by Katerina Papadopoulou and the Aegean Arc on July 21st takes us to Greece, with a musical journey from the Cyclades to the Dodecanese, from Crete to Cyprus, from the Peloponnese to Southern Italy, blending musical notes with stories narrated in traditional songs.

On July 21st, in an premiere  Le tue parole. Pierluigi, Scluse e il cîl a moving tribute to Friulian poet Pierluigi Cappello, who passed away in 2017, with the performance of Giuseppe Battiston and original music by Piero Sidoti, directed by Paola Rota, who also co-wrote the dramaturgy with Battiston, based on the poet’s original materials, including his lyrics and prose from Questa libertà (Rizzoli), and counterpointing the words with music in both Italian and Friulian. The show is a co-production of ARLef – Agjenzie regjonâl pe lenghe furlane and Mittelfest 2024.

The great open-air stage of Mittelfest, in its 33rd edition, returns in grand style to Piazza Duomo, an incredible location for great artists.

Don’t you find a seat for the shows in Piazza Duomo? Contact the ticket office!

On July 19, the curtain rises with the traditional opening concert, which, along with the final concert, forms a sort of musical frame around the festival, this year more than ever combining quality and playfulness.

Indeed, on July 19, Happy Concert will be performed, a production that will take place in Piazza Duomo with the FVG Orchestra and Lucy Landymor on percussion, featuring the duo Igudesman & Joo, with Aleksey Igudesman on violin and Hyung-ki Joo on piano, for a true musical zapping from Mozart to the Beatles, with the instruments transforming into something entirely different from what they are.

On July 28, in a collaboration that has been renewed over the years with Ravenna Festival, the singer-songwriter, actress, podcast author, and film director Margherita Vicario will present Margherita Vicario – Gloria!, a symphonic concert named after her debut film, which competed at the latest Berlin Festival, together with the Orchestra Corelli. In this case too, the telling of touching everyday stories blends with playful and sophisticated musical elements.

On July 21, in a world premiere, there will be a moving tribute to the Friulian poet Pierluigi Cappello, who passed away in 2017, in the show Le tue parole. Pierluigi, Scluse e il cîl, featuring Giuseppe Battiston and the original music of Piero Sidoti, directed by Paola Rota, who, together with Battiston, also curated the dramaturgy from the original materials of the poet from Chiusaforte, including his lyrics and the prose of Questa libertà (Rizzoli), finally punctuating the Italian and Friulian words with music. The show is a co-production ARLeF – Agjenzie regjonâl pe lenghe furlane and Mittelfest 2024.

On July 25, Moni Ovadia returns to Mittelfest for the first time since his tenure as the festival’s artistic director from 2003 to 2008, presenting Senza Confini. Ebrei e zingari, one of his flagship performances, but with renewed musicality, as is his style, for a recital of Romani, Sinti, and Jewish songs, music, and stories that challenge conformism and proclaim the non-negotiability of freedom.

Poetic and full of memory is the show Talk Radio, for words and music, premiering on July 22. Conceived by Valter Sivilotti, with a text by Angelo Floramo, it features the performance of Alessio Boni and the music of Glauco Venier, Mirko Cisilino, and Alfonso Deidda. The story that inspires this work is the unusual jazz season that enlivened Gorizia between 1945 and 1947 when the American liberation troops opened a radio station that broadcast the great masterpieces of Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, and the then-emerging Frank Sinatra.

Voci vicine 2.0, on July 27, will combine the investigative words of journalist Luciana Coluccello and the music of Fabio Cifarello Ciardi with the Icarus Ensemble. A multitude of voices denouncing the tragedies of our time, from climate change to labor and social issues.

For world music, the Džambo Agušev Orchestra returns to Mittelfest on July 24 in Piazza Duomo with Brasses for masses: a revelry of brass and percussion reminiscent of the wild dances of Balkan weddings.

Dance will also be represented on July 26 by the Italian-Belgian proposal Fortuna, conceived, directed, and choreographed by Piergiorgio Milano: two acrobats and dancers move on a dizzying structure, evoking the extreme conditions of sailing, a reverse shipwreck, where they emerge from the depths.

Pre-sales for season tickets begin on Thursday 13 June, while from Tuesday 18 June the box office will also be open for the purchase of single tickets

Find out more by visiting our ticketing page HERE!

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Info point
Borgo di Ponte – tel. 0432.733 966
Opening hours
From 13 June to 18 July – 11 a.m.-1 p.m.-5 p.m.
From 19 July to 28 July – 11.00-13.00/17.00-21.00
CLOSED: 17 and 24 June, 1, 8 and 15 July

Ticket office
Borgo di Ponte – Cividale del Friuli – tel. 0432.734316
Opening hours
From 13th June to 18th July – 11.00am-1.00pm/17.00pm-7.00pm
From 19 July to 28 July – 11.00-13.00/17.00-21.00
CLOSED: 17 and 24 June, 1, 8 and 15 July

At Mittelfest 2024, fun for the whole family is guaranteed thanks to our special Family Project! This program is specifically designed to offer unique and unforgettable experiences for both young and old.

Engaging free activities and must-see shows for only €10 for adults and €2 for children aged 6 to 12: four events that combine all the festival’s disciplines with an additional unprecedented and truly unmissable event.

The Family Project kicks off on Saturday, July 20 (5:30 PM) with Uno spettacolo by Circo all’Incirca, returning to Mittelfest with a world premiere. An interactive journey through shapes, colors, and rhythms inspired by the 30th anniversary of the first publication by French writer and illustrator Hervé Tullet, who revolutionized children’s literature with his interactive books. It will be a must to get involved with the circus performers in a contagious crescendo where playing is the most fun way to participate.

Get ready to be amazed and fascinated by Danger,

, Sunday 21 at 5:30 PM at Teatro Ristori: a breathtaking show with an explosive duo of circus art in a clownish performance for all, a whirlwind of comedy and poetry filled with humor and without words.

The musical proposals continue under the chapiteau at Parco della Lesa: Saturday 27 at 5:30 PM with In viaggio con Bazylek,the fantastic story of a funny dragon hiding in musical instruments with wind soloists and the Sinfonia Varsovia Wind Quintet. On Sunday 28, the Pizz’n’Zipp duo returns to Mittelfest with DiVerdiamoci! ,introducing children to the genius of Giuseppe Verdi with the famous arias from Nabucco, La Traviata, and Aida.

In addition to the four Project shows, there is great anticipation for the first festival Sunday (July 21 from 9 AM to 1 PM) with Loutkoviště (Pupazzi): : the Czech company specialized in interactive installations Waxwing Theatre and Art Prometheus will set up a fantastic and surprising “puppet playground” at Parco della Lesa with endless stories to play and discover, according to an ancient Czech tradition. Children and adults can play (free admission) with improvisation between five stages and over sixty puppets, ready to transform into fantastic stories.

In this enchanted world of puppets and marionettes, the little ones will be transported to a dimension of fantasy and wonder. But that’s not all! In addition to the show, we await you with cotton candy and face painting for kids, ensuring delight and fun!

Workshops return:

he Circus all’Incirca workshops, Un ordinato disordine,

will be held on Sunday, July 21 from 10 AM to 12 PM, and then on Monday 22, Wednesday 24, and Thursday 25 from 5 PM to 7 PM under the chapiteau at Parco della Lesa.
For children aged 5 to 9, a splendid opportunity to experiment with circus techniques with group games inspired by psychomotricity. Free participation with mandatory registration at www.mittelfest.org.

On Sunday, July 28, at 3 PM, discover the Pizz’n’Click workshop: Una nota al Museo the interactive musical workshop at Mittelfest 2024 for children aged 5 and up explores music and history through listening activities, collective soundscapes, singing, rhythmic games, and dance. Free participation with mandatory registration at www.mittelfest.org.

We look forward to seeing you at Mittelfest 2024, ready to create unforgettable memories together!