September’s Musical Rendevous
On the Sorrento Coast Nicola Piovani inaugurates the XXXVI festival on 8 September

The notes of timeless masterpieces, from 8 to 25 September, with Incontri Musicali Sorrentini - now in its 36th edition. To inaugurate the festival we willhave Nicola Piovani, world- famous musician and Oscar winnerfor the best soundtrack - Roberto Benigni’s “Life is Beautiful” - playing excerpts of his amazingrepertoire of film music. Organized by Federalberghi Penisola Sorrentina and the Sorrentoand Sant’Agnello Tourist Office, the festival’s patrons are he Campania Regional Tourist Board, Naples Tourist Authority and the local councils of Sorrento and Sant’Agnello, aided by the Fondazione Sorrento and a host of sponsors. “Federalberghi enthusiastically welcomed the opportunity of organising the 2008 edition of Incontri”, explains Costanzo Iaccarino, chairman of the Sorrentine Peninsula hoteliers association. “The initiative forms part of a series of projects launched with the regional and provincial tourist authorities, which began to take shape recently with the opening of an information centre. We are convinced that music, especiallyclassical music, could be an important vehicle in promoting the area.” The grand event, with Antonio Maione as artistic director, will alternate its traditional venue, the 14th century cloister of San Francesco in Sorrento, with two evenings in the historic centre of nearby Sant’Agnello. “But the new element for the 36th edition lies in the formula”, Maione points out. “In fact, alongside evenings dedicated to classical music with big names from the international stage, such as Leslie Howard, we have also arranged events combining recitation with music. On the 22nd, for example, Catherine Spaak will recite a text by Baudelaire to a background of music from the likes of Debussy.” “The aim is to ensure that a stay in Sorrento is more enjoyable and enriching, helped first and foremost by the tour operators ho promote the festival each year”, says Naples Tourist Authority director, Dario Scalabrini. “Initiatives like Incontri Musicali Sorrentini demonstrate that taking care of our guests and multiplying the vacation options in these splendid resorts are the path to providing quality”. The festival guests include orchestra Le Muse, an all-female ensemble for the 10th, tangos by Gardel and Piazzola with Francesco D’Errico on piano (14th), the Fanny Sax Quartet (15th), Francesco Nicolosi (16th), the mandolin of Michele Di Martino on his “home” stage in Sant’Agnello on the 18th, and the Camper Singers vocal group on the 23rd.