“Heroes” – The Theme of the 42nd Edition
Claudio Monteverdi and Francesco Cavalli compared, with two new productions: Il Ritorno di Ulisse in Patria – directed and performed by Davide Livermore – and Ercole Amante, directed by Andrea Bernard.
World premiere of the new critical edition of Palestrina’s Requiem in celebration of the 500th anniversary of his birth.
Cremona, June 13-29, 2025
Two new opera productions, a world premiere, concerts, discussions, and open lessons, totaling over 30 scheduled events: the city that gave birth to Claudio Monteverdi honors the father of opera by hosting great international stars, including Cecilia Bartoli, Davide Livermore, Jordi Savall, Christophe Rousset, Ottavio Dantone, The Tallis Scholars, and Maayan Licht. Being the cradle of violin-making, and recognized – alongside the practice of Italian opera singing – as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, Cremona reaffirms itself as a vital hub for the music world, welcoming enthusiasts from around the world to the 42nd Monteverdi Festival, from June 13 to 29, 2025.
«This year’s edition is dedicated to “Heroes”, emblematic figures in musical and theatrical tradition embodying values of courage, sacrifice, and destiny – says Andrea Cigni, Artistic Director of the Festival. Through two grand opera productions, Monteverdi and his pupil Francesco Cavalli engage in a dialogue, demonstrating the continuity and evolution of the operatic language. On one hand, Monteverdi’s Il Ritorno di Ulisse in Patria, where the Homeric hero faces his final struggles to reclaim his kingdom and his love for Penelope; on the other, Cavalli’s Ercole Amante, the titanic journey of the Greek demigod through love, power, and divinity. Two mythological narratives that, through music, reflect the complexity of the human soul».
The Festival opens at the Teatro Ponchielli on Friday, June 13, and Saturday, June 14, with what is considered Monteverdi’s most moving opera. The new staging of Il Ritorno di Ulisse in Patria, conducted by Michele Pasotti with La Fonte Musica, is directed by Davide Livermore, who in addition to directing the opera, will make a one-time return on stage as a tenor to interpret the role of the parasite, Iro.
To fully understand the historical context and the relationship between these two Venetian school giants, the program includes a work by Francesco Cavalli, one of the main novelties of this edition. Antonio Greco, the Festival’s Principal Musical Director, leads the new production of Ercole Amante, directed by 2024 “Premio Abbiati” winner Andrea Bernard. This rare Baroque masterpiece, performed by the Monteverdi Festival Choir and Orchestra – Cremona Antiqua, will be staged at the Teatro Ponchielli on Friday, June 27, and Sunday, June 29.
Spirituality also takes center stage at the Cremona festival. Among the Festival’s special previews, on Saturday, June 7, Monteverdi’s monumental Vespro della Beata Vergine will be presented at the Church of San Marcellino, conducted by Baroque star Jordi Savall, who will lead La Capella Reial de Catalunya and Le Concert des Nations.
Internationally acclaimed icon Cecilia Bartoli returns to Cremona for the second consecutive year. Headlining another pre-Festival event, on Wednesday, June 11, at the Teatro Ponchielli, the renowned mezzo-soprano will interpret the mythical poet-singer in Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, performed in concert form in its 1769 Parma version. Under the musical direction of Gianluca Capuano, conducting Les Musiciens du Prince and Il canto di Orfeo, soprano Mélissa Petit will be portraying Euridice and Amore.
All concerts in the program offer a broad overview of the various facets of 17th-century and Baroque music, including the world premiere of the new critical edition of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina’s Requiem, celebrating the 500th anniversary since the composer’s birth, performed by The Tallis Scholars conducted by Peter Phillips on June 26 at the Church of San Marcellino. The same church will also host Venezia Salva, a concert exploring Venetian musical art, with Michele Pasotti and La Fonte Musica, on June 21. Another extraordinary event features Israeli sopranist Maayan Licht — recent winner of the 2025 Oper! Award for Best Newcomer — performing arias by Monteverdi, Scarlatti, Handel, and Vivaldi alongside Accademia Bizantina, conducted by Ottavio Dantone, on June 15 at the G. Arvedi Auditorium in the Violin Museum.
The complex relationship between master and student is further explored in the concert Monteverdi e Cavalli: Due Veneziani a Napoli, investigating the musical ties between these Baroque giants and the Neapolitan environment, with Christophe Rousset leading Les Talens Lyriques (June 28); as well as in the meeting with Stéphane Fuget and his ensemble Les Épopées, highlighting Monteverdi’s influence on the next generation of composers (June 22).
For over two weeks, in Cremona’s symbolic locations, the modernity of a language that remains ever alive will be rediscovered, including thematic conferences that are part of Monteverdi Incursions, such as the discussion Il Canto del Divin Claudio, curated by the Committee for the Safeguarding of Italian Opera Singing. Also returning are Monteverdi Dappertutto, bringing the genius of Cremona’s music to the nursing home Ancelle della Carità, to the local prison, and to the Cremona Information Technology center (CRIT); and the Monteverdi Academy, a training residency dedicated to young artists.
«The Monteverdi Festival – explained Cremona’s Mayor Andrea Virgilio – is much more than a music festival: it is a journey into our identity, into the history of a city that has made music its universal language. Music is not just something to listen to; it is also the space that welcomes it. The Festival, which each year chooses not only theaters but also squares, churches, and courtyards as its backdrop, in a continuous dialogue between music and its audience, is clear proof of this».
The Monteverdi Festival is made possible thanks to the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Lombardy Region, and the Municipality of Cremona, embodying and promoting a virtuous synergy between public and private resources, setting the direction for a Festival that is a symbol of excellence, cultural innovation, and a driving force in the field of Italian musical production.
Main Sponsor is Gruppo Bossoni Automobili, a key player in the automotive sector, that once again strengthens its commitment to Cremona’s culture, leaving its mark on the Festival and contributing to the appreciation of an invaluable musical heritage. The other main sponsor, Fondazione LGH, with its strategic vision focused on innovation, helps create prestigious artistic events that allow the Festival to have a broad impact on the region, transforming it into a catalyst for research, sustainability, and socio-economic growth.
Photo credits: Cecilia Bartoli © OMC – Fabrice Demessence
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