Preludi d’Autunno 2026

From Sunday, September 20 to Saturday, October 3, 2026, Teatro Fraschini in Pavia opens its new season with Preludi d'Autunno 2026, the symphonic series that precedes the main Opera Season. Celebrating its fifth edition, the festival features five concerts—each designed in dialogue with one of the season's opera titles—bringing renowned ensembles to Pavia, including the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano, Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Orchestra Ghislieri, and Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana.

The Five Concerts at Teatro Fraschini

Each concert features a distinct theme with a direct or indirect link to one of the operas programmed for the 2026/27 Season.

Byronmania — Sunday, September 20 at 6:00 PM

Linked to Rossini's L'italiana in Algeri, the opening concert revolves around the myth of Lord Byron. The program features works by Rossini, Schumann, and Berlioz, performed by the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano conducted by Jacopo Brusa, with Danilo Rossi on viola and tenor Mert Süngü.
Britten in Love — Thursday, September 24 at 8:30 PM

The second event explores Death in Venice through the music of Britten and Beethoven, performed by the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra led by Péter Tfirst.
Enigmi — Saturday, September 26 at 8:30 PM

Connecting to Turandot, the third concert pairs Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with his Symphony No. 6 "Pathétique", performed by the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana under conductor Krzysztof Urbański, featuring violinist Francesca Dego.
Amori e Danze — Thursday, October 1 at 8:30 PM

The fourth concert dialogues with Un ballo in maschera through opera arias and dances by Handel. Performed by Orchestra Ghislieri under conductor Giulio Prandi, featuring countertenor Carlo Vistoli.
Masquerade — Saturday, October 3 at 8:30 PM

The finale closes the series ahead of Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci, presenting works by Stravinsky, Dvořák, and Khachaturian, performed by the Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana conducted by Nayden Todorov.

Why "Symphonic Intersections"?

Every concert in Preludi d'Autunno is conceived as a bridge to one of the five titles of the 2026/27 Opera Season. In some cases, the connection is explicit, such as Byronmania and Rossini; in others, it is subtle, like the journey leading from Britten to Death in Venice. The series offers a gateway to the opera season through symphonic and chamber repertoire.