The Lerici Music Festival Concludes Its Landmark Tenth Edition with an International Celebration

August 5, 2026

LERICI, Italy — The tenth edition of the Lerici Music Festival came to a triumphant close on August 2, reaffirming its position as one of Italy's most distinctive summer music festivals and an increasingly important destination on the international cultural calendar.

Lerici Music Festival 2026

Set against the spectacular backdrop of San Terenzo Castle and the Gulf of Poets, the closing concert brought together distinguished artists, cultural leaders, and music professionals from Italy, Europe, and the United States for an evening that celebrated not only the festival's artistic achievements but also its growing international reputation.

Led with elegance, refinement, and musical authority by Stefano Vignati, conducting the Orchestra del Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova, the concert was one of the defining moments of this anniversary edition. Vignati shaped performances of exceptional color, balance, and expressive depth throughout an evening that opened with Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto, performed by Italian cellist and Premio Abbiati winner Miriam Prandi. The program continued with the world premiere of Per Mare by Roberto Di Marino, commissioned as part of this year's thematic exploration of Water and dedicated to the memory of Emilio Marcianò, whose recent passing deeply touched the festival community, and concluding with a compelling tribute to the unforgettable film music of Ennio Morricone.

The gala evening welcomed numerous distinguished figures from the world of opera and the performing arts. Among those in attendance were Michele Galli, Intendant of the Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova; Federico Pupo, Artistic Director of the Teatro Carlo Felice; and Maurizio Roi, former General Manager of the Teatro Carlo Felice and currently General Director of the Teatro di Roma. The audience also included an international delegation of artists' managers, presenters, artistic directors, and cultural professionals, confirming the festival's growing stature within the global music community.

The evening was also attended by Marco Russo, Mayor of Lerici, and Lisa Saisi, Councillor for Culture, whose continued support has been instrumental in the festival's remarkable growth over the past decade. During the gala, special prizes and awards were presented to artists and individuals whose contributions have played a significant role in the success and artistic development of the Lerici Music Festival, adding a celebratory dimension to this milestone anniversary.

Running from July 22 through August 2, the festival inaugurated the first chapter of a new four-year artistic cycle dedicated to the four elements of nature. The 2026 theme, Water, inspired concerts, world premieres, visual arts, literature, and interdisciplinary events presented in some of Liguria's most evocative venues, including Villa Marigola, the Shelley Literary Park, the Teatro degli Impavidi in Sarzana, and the waterfront beneath San Terenzo Castle.

Under the artistic leadership of Gianluca Marcianò, the Lerici Music Festival has grown into an internationally recognized cultural destination, bringing together world-class musicians, opera executives, artistic directors, agents, presenters, and audiences from around the world. More than a festival, it has become a place where artistic excellence, collaboration, and cultural exchange flourish.

As the final notes echoed across the Gulf of Poets, the tenth edition celebrated not only a decade of artistic achievement but also the beginning of an exciting new chapter, confirming the Lerici Music Festival as one of Europe's most inspiring and internationally connected summer music festivals.