Voices of Europe, forty years of success and passion for polyphonic music

Five appointments in Porto Torres and another five divided between Sorso, Santa Maria Coghinas, Borutta, Monteleone Rocca Doria and the locality of La Crucca in Sassari. In addition, a special concert dedicated to tourists sailing towards the island of Asinara National Park. Music, food and wine, historical and naturalistic sites of North-West Sardinia characterize the 40th International Festival of polyphonic music Voices of Europe which will take place from 2 to 10 September. The event is organized by the Turritano Polyphonic Choir with the Artistic Direction of Maestro Laura Lambroni. A long history of passion that began in 1979 to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the group which had among its founders the unforgettable Maestro and Director Don Antonio Sanna. An event that restarted after the first edition in 1985. Since then without stopping, hosting hundreds of choirs from all over Italy and Europe, becoming the longest-running polyphonic event in Sardinia and managing to introduce innovative elements without losing the link with tradition.

The prologue on Saturday 2 September on the Sara D. ferry of the Delcomar company: the Turritano Polyphonic Choir will entertain passengers sailing from Porto Torres to the island of Asinara National Park during the 8.30am ride. In the evening, from 19.00, again in Porto Torres, Tenuta Li Lioni will host a special choral dinner by reservation (info@vocideuropa.it; tel. 320 4257552), with a menu of zero kilometer products and the Confartigianato exhibition and Coldiretti. On Sunday 3 September at 21.00, in the medieval village of Monteleone Rocca Doria , in the late Romanesque church of Santo Stefano, the award-winning Slovenian sextet Ingenium Ensemble will perform. On Monday 4th September the event moves to Sorso . In the church of Santa Croce, at 21.00, the notes of the Polyphonic Corale Santa Croce, the Turritano Polyphonic Choir and the Ingenium Ensemble will resound. Tuesday, September 5 stop in the historical house of the Festival, the Basilica of San Gavino in Porto Torres , which will be the setting for the concerts of the Turritano Polyphonic Choir and the Ingenium Ensemble, always starting at 21.00. On Wednesday 6 September, at 18.00, Voices of Europe will give a “Concert for social affairs” to the guests of the Community of La Crucca , in the Sassari area: the Turritano Polyphonic Choir and the Sa Pintadera women's choir from Oristano will take the stage. Thursday 7 September , at 20.00, in the Littu Park of Santa Maria Coghinas , two male groups celebrate the Sardinian choral tradition: the Amici del canto Sardo choir from Sassari and the Voches 'e Ammentos choir from Galtellì. Friday 8 September we return to Porto Torres , in the Basilica of San Gavino: at 21.00 opening space at the Tölzer Knabenchor, children's choir from Germany. It will then be the turn of the Orientis Partibus, a medieval and Renaissance music ensemble from Assisi, which will collaborate with the Turritano Polyphonic Choir for the staging of part of the wonderful repertoire coming from the Benedictine Monastery of Santa Maria de Monserrat. Saturday 9 September in Porto Torres , at the same time and always in the Basilica of San Gavino, in addition to the German group and the Umbrian instrumental group there will be the Hic et Nunc formation from Cagliari. Sunday, September 10 , a stop in another splendid monument in Northern Sardinia, the Abbey of San Pietro di Sorres in Borutta . In the morning there will be a seminar held by Maestro Vladimiro Vagnetti, while at 12.00 Orientis Partibus and Hic et Nunc will perform. On the occasion of this fortieth edition, the grand finale of the Festival will be held outdoors: always on Sunday 10, in the garden of the Aragonese Tower, in Porto Torres , the Neri Per Caso, the most known on the Italian scene.

«It will be a special birthday for Voci d'Europa – underlines Maria Maddalena Simile, President of the Turritano Polyphonic Choir Association – which continues its journey thanks to the commitment and enthusiasm of all our members. There are many institutions that support us and numerous local businesses that, especially this year, have shown sensitivity towards the Festival. Our huge thanks go to them." “The events will span many genres and I think it is great value. The mission of our Festival – says Laura Lambroni, artistic director of the event – is to contribute to the diffusion of polyphonic music without boundaries of language or artistic expressions».

Among the initiatives related to the event, there is also the VdE Pass which allows you to obtain discounts in the activities participating in the initiative (for information and subscriptions: www.vocideuropa.it ). The 40th Voci d'Europa International Polyphonic Music Festival is part of the Salude & Trigu network of the Sassari Chamber of Commerce and has the support of the Sardinia Region and the Sardinia Foundation. The municipalities of Porto Torres, Sassari, Sorso, Santa Maria Coghinas, Borutta and Monteleone Rocca Doria are institutional partners. The event takes place thanks to the collaboration of the Archdiocese of Sassari, Tenuta Li Lioni, Marmo.it, Delcomar and Grimaldi Lines. Several local businesses also support the event.