The Terre di Scansano Classica Festival brings classical music to summer-scented evenings in the Tuscan Maremma. On seemingly random nights throughout June, July, August and September, some of Europe and the world’ best artists will be descending on Scansano to play free concerts in some spectacular settings.
The idea for the Terre di Scansano Classica Festival came from long time music lover and Scansano native Antonio Bonfilio. If you visit Scansano high in the Fiora Valley any other time of the year, you might think this beautiful medieval town isn’t particularly musical.
If you know anything about Maremman wines, you might know that Scansano is actually the home of the very famous Morellino di Scansano red wine, which is making a splash on the international wine scene.
Scansano’s roots were planted by the Etruscans – a Bronze Age civilization that created an empire known as Etruria in Tuscany and were then effectively wiped out by the Roman Empire. Along with wine, the Etruscans also left Scansano with a profound ear for the arts, especially the music.
The Terre di Scansano Classica Festival is simply continuing this tradition more than 2,000 years later. This year’s edition promises 10 concerts from names like Georg Solti Accademia di Bel Canto from Geneva and London, I Solisti di Hulencourt from Bruxelles, Ensemble Berlin and the Palo AltoChamber Orchestra.
Even if you’re never heard of any of these artists, this festival is unmissable simply because the concerts are almost all free and are held in some of the most spectacular and suggestive spots in Maremma.
Take the Palo AltoChamber Orchestra’s performance on Sunday June 23rd. They’re performing the Teatro sul Acqua (Theatre on the Water) in Sasseta Alta at sunset.
Near the ancient Convent of Petreto (1274) in Sasseta, there is a gravel road that winds for about a mile between glade and forest to open into a breathtaking valley. Here among the ruins of an ancient settlement is the semi amphitheatre where the concert will be performed. It wraps itself around a small lake and in light reflected by the setting sun, appears to be floating on water.
If that hasn’t inspired you to see this concert then maybe Ghiaccio Forte will. On Sunday July 7th, the Orchestra Sinfonica Città di Grosseto will be performing as the soft colours of dawn flood this ancient Etruscan settlement (4th century B.C.E). Ghiaccio Forte is one of the Maremma’s biggest and best preserved archaeological sites, so its hard to think of a more magnificent spot for a concert.
If that’s not you’re thing, you can check out a concert at Scansano’s gold and red ornamented early 19th-century Castagnoli Theatre or maybe the 11th century Montepo Castle, which is opens to the public especially for this event.
I attended some of the concerts at last year’s Terre di Scansano Classica Festival and I can tell you, I was blown away. Good music and incredible scenery without having to spend a cent? Rare doesn’t even begin to describe this magnificent festival.
The concert dates are scattered throughout the summer months, so the best thing to do is download the programme and has a look-see. Or you can check out the website at www.terrediscansanoclassicafestival.it