Ravenna Festival, “Cantare amantis est”, Riccardo Muti directs 3000 choristers from all over Italy in the name of peace

L'June 1 and 2, 2025, on De André Altarpiece of Ravenna welcomes an unprecedented choral event: ““Singing is lovers”, the new project of the Ravenna Festivalwhich sees protagonists over 3000 choristers of all ages – from 4 to 87 years old -, coming from all the regions of Italy, gathered under the direction of Riccardo Muti for two days of exciting musical sharing.

The initiative, curated by Anna Leonardi is Michele Marco Rossi, fits into the ideal path traced by Muti with The Paths of Friendship, the project that for over twenty-five years has crossed borders and conflicts – from Sarajevo to New York, from Jerusalem to Kiev – building bridges of brotherhood and calling wounded peoples to hope and peace. Now it will be the same Ravenna to become the destination of this symbolic journey, transforming itself into a meeting place for thousands of voices united in the name of music and the ideal that supports it.

The title of the project, taken from St. Augustine - Singing lovers is, "singing is for those who love” – explains the profound meaning of the enterprise: a hymn to the emotional and relational dimension of choral singing, an instrument of proximity, openness, and construction of the common good. An idea that Riccardo Muti he often reiterated: «Singing and making music together is the most vivid example of a society that, through harmony and beauty, tends towards the common good».

Maestro Muti further explains: "In this dramatic moment, in which the world is a lit powder keg, in which people continue to die under the bombs, the people of Europe are wondering whether to invest in weapons while earthquakes cause thousands of victims and destruction, children are deprived of life and a future; in this moment, I wanted to launch a Call, an appeal addressed to everyone, without distinction of origin, age, sex, profession, religion".

The call was open to everyone, without limits of age, training or experience: amateur and professional choirs, beginners and experienced singers, all welcomed in a sort of great free masterclass, which will culminate in a collective experience: all the rehearsals and in-depth sessions will in fact be open to the public, transforming the journey itself into a show and moment of reflection: a unique opportunity to closely observe the work of a great conductor and penetrate the profound meaning of the music and the intentions that the composer has infused into his score.

The chosen repertoire brings together three of the most intense pages of Giuseppe Verdi – Go think about Nabucco, Oppressed Homeland! from Macbeth and Jerusalem!… Jerusalem! from The Lombards to the First Crusade..

“To accomplish together – he further underlines Riccardo Muti, «a true Journey into chorality as a union of peoples and feelings, because singing is an expression of our soul and of the differences that live in each of us. For this reason I have the desire to meet as many people as possible in Ravenna to sing together, transforming ourselves into a single, great Choir for a new Journey of Friendship made through Verdi's music. Thus merging our voices in a message of union, solidarity, and building peace». .