Arte Solidale Festival is a meeting of music and social engagement: a series of chamber music concerts that brings together young musicians from around the world in an artistic residency on Lake Como, with the dual aim of promoting emerging talent and supporting minors in difficulty across the Como territory. Founded in 2015, the Festival is entirely curated by young artists and is driven by the conviction that culture and solidarity can grow together.
Each September, the historic villas and residences of the Lake open their doors to the public, welcoming refined programmes performed on period instruments and nineteenth-century pianos, guided by a historically informed interpretation ranging from Viennese Classicism to late Romanticism.
The twelfth edition opens with two pre-festival concerts on 1 and 3 September, followed by six chamber music events between 5 and 13 September, held in Como and Pianello del Lario, featuring experienced artists specialising in period-instrument performance from Japan, Mexico, the United States, Poland, Spain and Italy. Alongside four very young local talents from Como who will open the festival’s various concerts, ASF also presents its new Young Artist in Residence, violist Jaume Bosser Toca.
The programme spans highlight moments such as a concert devoted to Schumann and Chopin on the historic Erard piano at Villa Imbonati, the “Aperitivo a Quattro Pianoforti” in Griante, a concert among historic boats in Pianello, and a matinée at Villa del Balbianello. Along the way, the resident artists alternate in various formations from duo to quintet, celebrating music, the lake and charity. The Festival also includes a tribute to Italy at Villa Carlotta and a dedication to Mozart at the Albergo San Giorgio in Lenno, culminating in a performance of a rare chamber version of Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony in Como at the Centro Cardinal Ferrari.
Highlights of the events:
- Schubertian Afternoon — 1 Sep, Villa Bernasconi, Cernobbio (Pre-festival #1)
- Aperitivo a Quattro Pianoforti — 5 Sep, Griante: four period pianos inaugurate the festival week
- Vele, Musica e Regate — 6 Sep, Museo della Barca Lariana, Pianello del Lario: music inspired by the boats and stories of the Lake
- Matinée Musicale — 10 Sep, Villa del Balbianello: music and poetry on a rare antique table piano
- Suggestioni Italiane — 11 Sep, Villa Carlotta: Italian-themed chamber music, from Boccherini to overseas tributes
- Omaggio a Mozart — 12 Sep, Albergo San Giorgio, Lenno: marking the 270th anniversary of Mozart’s birth
- Beethoven: Eroica — 13 Sep, Centro Cardinal Ferrari, Como: gala closing concert
As with all Arte Solidale concerts, the events are charitable, with entry on a free-offering basis. All public donations are fully channelled to projects supporting minors in situations of hardship and difficulty across the Como territory, in collaboration with the social cooperative “Azalea” in Tremezzina and the Coordinamento Minori of Como.
Bookings are made directly on the events page of the festival website, with entry on a free-offering basis via online donation or at the concert: https://www.artesolidalefestival.com/eventi-2026.
Photo credits: Arte Solidale
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