Between summer and fall, Varazze celebrates Francesco Cilea, internationally renowned composer and honorary citizen of the city, with a festival featuring concerts, workshops, and artist residencies in the city's most evocative locations. A cultural journey that explores Cilea's musical legacy with a contemporary, experimental and deeply landscape-bound perspective.
“In viaggio con Cilea” is part of the cultural framework of Oltremare, a project that reinterprets the idea of “beyond the sea” as a tension towards contamination, soundscapes and hybrid art forms. Like the deep blue that came from afar across the sea, Oltremare is a space of discovery: where tradition meets innovation.
Places as stages. The festival takes place between July and November, spanning seasons and geographies: from the historic center to the hills, from the coast to the hinterland. The program includes:
- Evening concerts, matinees at dawn, and performances at sunset
- Masterclasses and workshops open to music students
- An artist residency with a guest composer, who will be asked to write a piece inspired by Cilea
- World premieres of transcriptions and contemporary reinterpretations of his works
A new voice for Cilea. The heart of the project is cross-pollination. Cilea's lyrical language is intertwined with sound design, electronic experimentation, and chamber music. A dialogue between genres that renews the listening experience, projecting his work into a contemporary, open, and multidisciplinary dimension.
A look beyond borders. The festival is also a tool for cultural and territorial promotion, thanks to the collaboration with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Nice. Among the initiatives is a video performance created during the winter months, designed to showcase the landscape and cultural vocation of Varazze even out of season.
“In viaggio con Cilea” is much more than a tribute: it is a living project that enhances the musical identity of the city, opening it up to new languages. Music, connections, experimentation, and education intertwine in a multifaceted narrative that reflects the contemporary soul of Varazze.
