Asiago Festival 2025 | 59th edition

Asiago, The center of the largest plateau in Italy, in the green heart of the Veneto mountains, renews its traditional appointment with great music: from August 9 to 15, 2025, “the smallest and brightest city in Italy” – definition by Gabriele D'Annunzio – will host the 59th edition of Asiagofestival, a week of events ranging from the great chamber music tradition to contemporary sounds, from film music to the organ repertoire.

Entrusted to the artistic direction of Josè Gallardo is Hyun-Jung Berger, and to the organization of Alberto Brazzale, granddaughter of the founder Fiorella Benetti Brazzale, Asiagofestival 2025 pays homage to Czech and Central European chamber music with the Bennewitz Quartet, enhances the refined sounds of the clarinet Andreas Ottensamer and the energy of the cellos of Cello enthusiast, pays a special tribute to contemporary music with guest composer Mikel Urquiza, without forgetting the traditional final organ concert, entrusted to Fredrik Albertsson.

The guest of honor will be the Basque composer Mikel Urquiza, born in 1988, winner in 2022 of the prestigious “Ernst von Siemens” award, considered the “Nobel Prize of contemporary music”. August 14 will premiere his new composition dedicated to the city, commissioned by the festival, one of the main events of the entire edition. This continues an illustrious tradition that over the years has seen Asiagofestival host figures such as Sofia Gubaidulina – disappeared in March 2025 – Fabio Vacchi, Thierry Escaich, Franghiz Ali-Zadeh and many other protagonists of the music of our time.

The inaugural concert of the 59th Asiago Festival, Saturday August 9, at the Church of San Rocco, is entrusted to the Bennewitz Quartet, among the most acclaimed chamber ensembles in the Czech Republic, with a programme dedicated to great Bohemian chamber music.

The closure, the August 15, coincides with the solemnity of the Assumption: in the Cathedral of San Matteo the traditional organ concert will resound, with the Swedish organ as protagonist Fredrik Albertsson, For its debut in Asiago, the festival will offer a journey from the Baroque music of Bach and Buxtehude to the romantic influences of Northern Europe. This tribute renews the festival's roots, which began as a showcase of organ and sacred music, inspired by the vision of Fiorella Benetti Brazzale.