In September 2025, the Arte Solidale Festival (ASF) marks its eleventh edition, uniting young international musicians with a social mission on the shores of Lake Como. This year’s multi-venue program, running from September 6 to 14 with pre-festival events on September 2 and 4, blends historically informed chamber music on antique instruments with a commitment to supporting minors in difficulty within the Como area. Born in 2015 and entirely organized by emerging artists, ASF continues to demonstrate that culture and solidarity can grow in tandem, drawing audiences to historic villas and regal salons to experience refined performances, period instruments, and a century-spanning repertoire.
ASF#25 unfolds across Como and Dongo, featuring performances on period pianos from the 19th century and historically aware interpretations spanning Viennese Classicism to late Romanticism. The festival’s overarching aim remains unchanged: nurture rising talent while channeling all event proceeds via charitable offerings to local initiatives supporting minors in need, in collaboration with Coop. Sociale Azalea (Tremezzina) and the Como Minors Coordination. Ticketing is transparent and community-driven, with reservations handled directly through the festival’s event pages, and donations directed entirely to beneficiaries on the ground.
A Rich Stream of Pre-Festival Highlights and Core Concerts
The opening pre-festival dates set the tonal ambition: Amori e Fantasie – Pre-festival #1 (September 2, Villa Bernasconi) features Kārlis Tirzītis, a Latvian pianist, performing a Romantic-era program that unfolds from Clementi’s Didone Abbandonata to Mendelssohn’s monumental Fantasia in F-sharp minor, culminating in Schubert’s Theme and Variations in A-flat major. The collaboration with Danilo Mascetti and the showcasing of Beethoven’s Variations in G major by rising talents such as Giulio Canino underscore ASF’s dedication to virtuosic clarity and interpretive depth.
Franz Liszt e la Poesia – Pre-festival #2 (September 4, Villa Imbonati) expands the lyrical spectrum, pairing Tirzītis and Mascetti with actress Alessandra Fertitta for a program that entwines Liszt’s music with readings of poems by Lamartine and others. Greta Barberi, a young pianist, opens the evening with Liszt studies, setting an intimate, literary mood that will resonate through the evening’s virtuosic displays.
Aperitivo a Tre Pianoforti – Opening Concert (September 6, Griante)
ASF celebrates the festival’s opening with an intimate three-piano concert transmitted through a social and convivial lens. The afternoon is a dialogue among the era’s major pianistic voices—from Beethoven’s romances interpreted by Lydia Kirschenbaum to trios by Chaminade and Brahms, building toward a collaborative finale featuring a Sthal Notturno. Greta Barberi again participates, underscoring ASF’s ongoing commitment to young regional talent.
The Belle Époque – Flute, Cello, and Piano (September 7, Dongo)
Alenka Bogataj’s return to ASF is paired with Anna Litvinenko, Juan Pablo Hinojosa, and Danilo Mascetti for a program that celebrates the Belle Époque repertoire. The concert travels across late-Romantic peaks, including Gaubert’s Acquarello, Bourgeois’ Trio, and Strohl’s lyrical cello sonata, with Franck’s grand late-Romantic sonata adapted for flute providing a centerpiece alongside Beethoven’s Variations, all framed by the young pianist Giulio Canino’s Beethoven Variations.
Matinée Musicale – Poetry and Music at Balbianello (September 9)
A sunlit morning at Villa Balbianello pairs string trios with readings of poetry by Alessandra Fertitta, enriching the chamber experience with literary reflections. The program threads Dvořák’s Terzetto with Beethoven and Ries trios, seasoned by carefully chosen verses that connect musical ideas into a cohesive sensory journey. Access includes a boat ride to the villa, with gardens and views of the lake adding a scenic dimension to the performance.
The Dawn of Virtuosos – Early 19th Century Echoes (September 10)
Set against Villa Carlotta’s lakeside backdrop, this concert traces the era’s virtuosi, featuring Clementi and Beethoven sonatas, complemented by Cramer’s nocturnes and Corelli’s early sonata, performed in a historically informed context that invites audiences to relive the early piano’s excitements.
Chopin’s Legacy – The Second Half of the 19th Century (September 13)
The Albergo San Giorgio hosts a recital centered on Chopin’s enduring influence. Anna Litvinenko and Danilo Mascetti perform a cello-piano sonata, followed by works reflecting Chopin’s impact, including the Mayer nocturnes, a Parry trio, Tchaikovsky melodies performed by Eriko Nagayama, and a Saint-Saëns quartet. The fortepiano by Broadwood from mid-century anchors the intimate sonority of this program.
Gala Concert – Romantic Grandeur (September 14)
The festival closes with a program celebrating Schubert, Mendelssohn, and Schumann. Mendelssohn’s Violin Sonata in F major anchors the evening, followed by Schubert’s poignant G minor sonatina for violin and piano. The collaborative finale is Schumann’s Quintet for piano and strings, performed on a Viennese fortepiano by Samisch and showcasing the ensemble’s refined, intimate timbre. The evening promises a lush, Romantic crescendo amid Villa Gallia’s elegant setting in Como.
ASF#25 brings together a roster of emerging talents and distinguished guests, including Greta Barberi (piano), Giulio Canino (Menaggio Don Carlo Basci Academy), Lydia Kirschenbaum (Violin, Young Artist in Residence 2025, USA/UK), Eriko Nagayama (Violin, Japan), Alyssa Campbell (Violin/Viola, USA), Anna Litvinenko (Cello, Cuba/Ukraine), Danilo Mascetti (Piano, Italy), Juan Pablo Hinojosa (Piano, Mexico), and Kārlis Tirzītis (Piano, Latvia). Readings and narrations by Alessandra Fertitta (Italy) weave literary textures through the musical program, enriching the evenings with context and storytelling.
All ASF#25 events operate on a donation basis, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to social impact. Reservations are managed via the festival’s official events page, and donations support local initiatives serving minors in need within the Como area, in collaboration with Azalea Cooperative and the Como Minors Coordination. The festival emphasizes accessibility and community engagement, inviting audiences to participate in the artistic journey while contributing to meaningful social programs.
ASF#25 stands as a luminous example of how cultural excellence and social responsibility can converge to create lasting community value. As audiences immerse themselves in a week of masterful performances on period instruments across historic venues, the festival’s leadership reaffirms its pledge to transparency, education, and inclusive cultural participation. Readers and partners are encouraged to stay connected with ASF’s ongoing activities, support the charitable mission, and participate in forthcoming programs and consultations, ensuring that the festival’s momentum translates into measurable, equitable impact across the Lake Como region and beyond.
Photo credits: The photos belong to the ASF’s archive.
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