Music of the Aosta Valley
Encyclopedia
The development of music in the Aosta Valley region of Italy, similar to nearby Piedmont
, has much to do with the presence of medieval monasteries that preserved important musical manuscripts from the Middle Ages
and also served as conduits of information and influence from areas to the north. The area has acquired a recent reputation for actively promoting contemporary music and for providing musical facilities for the youth.
The city of Aosta
, itself, is the home of a Youth Symphony and, since 1999, the Valle d'Aosta Symphony Orchestra. Both of these groups avail themselves of the spacious Roman theater (from the 1st century AD) at Porta Pretoria to put on a series of outdoor summer concerts. As well, the city hosts an International Festival of Chamber Music and an interesting Silent Film Festival with live musical accompaniment.
Elsewhere in the region, in Gressoney-Saint-Jean
the Friends of Music of Gressoney use the Savoy Palace
(built in 1904 for Queen Margherita of Italy) for summer chamber music recitals. In Sarre
, as well, an international music festival is held annually in the medieval Savoy Castle.
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
, has much to do with the presence of medieval monasteries that preserved important musical manuscripts from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
and also served as conduits of information and influence from areas to the north. The area has acquired a recent reputation for actively promoting contemporary music and for providing musical facilities for the youth.
The city of Aosta
Aosta
Aosta is the principal city of the bilingual Aosta Valley in the Italian Alps, north-northwest of Turin. It is situated near the Italian entrance of the Mont Blanc Tunnel, at the confluence of the Buthier and the Dora Baltea, and at the junction of the Great and Little St. Bernard routes...
, itself, is the home of a Youth Symphony and, since 1999, the Valle d'Aosta Symphony Orchestra. Both of these groups avail themselves of the spacious Roman theater (from the 1st century AD) at Porta Pretoria to put on a series of outdoor summer concerts. As well, the city hosts an International Festival of Chamber Music and an interesting Silent Film Festival with live musical accompaniment.
Elsewhere in the region, in Gressoney-Saint-Jean
Gressoney-Saint-Jean
Gressoney-Saint-Jean is a town and comune in the Aosta Valley region of north-western Italy.- Points of interest :* Giardino Botanico Alpino "Castel Savoia", an alpine botanical garden...
the Friends of Music of Gressoney use the Savoy Palace
Savoy Palace
The Savoy Palace was considered the grandest nobleman's residence of medieval London, until it was destroyed in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. It fronted the Strand, on the site of the present Savoy Theatre and the Savoy Hotel that memorialise its name...
(built in 1904 for Queen Margherita of Italy) for summer chamber music recitals. In Sarre
Sarre, Italy
Sarre is a town and comune in the Aosta Valley region of north-western Italy....
, as well, an international music festival is held annually in the medieval Savoy Castle.