Music and singing tell about the land of Bassa Romagna. This land gave birth to the genius talent of Arcangelo Corelli, welcomed prestigious masters such as Gioachino Rossini and Pietro Mascagni and the luthier Custode Marcucci, and where, thanks to theatres and museums, the notes of extraordinary melodies still reverberate through the air.
Music is still alive in "listening places" such as auditoriums and theatres, but also in unusual places such as natural arenas, old railway stations, and ancient wash-houses that throughout the year become an evocative setting for shows and important musical events.
You can travel by bike or by car following the directions on the map available at this link.
Gioachino Rossini, one of the greatest composers of the 19th century, started studying music in 1802 when his family moved to Lugo.
Not to be missed is the visit to Rossini's Museum-House where you can discover the music, passions and life of the Master. The Callido organ on which he began to practice is preserved in perfect condition in the Church of the Carmine.
Another musician from Lugo is Francesco Balilla Pratella, father of Futurist music and a very important musician in avant-garde European music. At the Trisi Library it is possible to visit the Sala della Musica, a music room that pays homage to Lugo's musicians and houses artifacts.
The town of Fusignano was the birthplace of the musician Arcangelo Corelli, maybe the greatest representative of Italian instrumental Baroque, who studied composition in Rome and began his public activity as a violinist, working at the service of illustrious local personalities. On the façade of the church of Pio Suffragio there is a bust of Arcangelo Corelli.
In the Museo Civico San Rocco there is a recently made portrait of Corelli, as well as a collection of devotional plaques and works which tell the history of the town.
Good music requires good instruments and in Sant'Agata sul Santerno the luthier Custode Marcucci proved this. Specialised in the construction of cellos and double basses, he reached very high levels of quality, completely self-taught.
Inside the Town Hall there is a memorial plaque that remembers him and one of his violins. In 2017, the city paid tribute to Marcucci with a series of murals created by Riccardo Buonafede.
Another musician who brought his notes to Romagna is Pietro Mascagni, composer of "Cavalleria Rusticana". His great love was Anna Lolli, a native of Bagnara di Romagna. The Pietro Mascagni Historical Museum tells their story thanks to almost 5000 letters and several personal items belonging to the composer.
If it is true that good music needs good instruments, it is also true that a good stage can fascinate with the magical atmosphere of its shows.
The Teatro Carlo Goldoni in Bagnacavallo (1845) has ceramic medallions on the façade which tell us about great composers even before we cross the threshold. Carefully decorated inside with prized frescoes and stuccoes, it shows the spirit of the Risorgimento during which it was built.
