“Alta Pusteria” Festival was born to life in 1998; the first edition, with twenty two participant choirs, takes place in the five towns of Alta Val Pusteria, from Braies to Sesto.
With the third edition it assumes an international dimension; besides Italian choirs, during years, performed ensembles coming from many European Countries and America, Asia, Africa. In the same year, in Gustav Mahler Hall in Dobbiaco, “Meeting-Days” were born, later involving all the biggest concert halls of the valley.
In 2002, in the occasion of celebrations for the “International Year of the Mountain”, “Open Air Reviews” were devised: the consents achieved lead them to become a steady event of the Festival. In 2003 the first “Choirs’ Parade” takes place, since then occurring each year in the centre of San Candido.
The growing number of registrations and the will to offer an always greater variety of concert venues lead to the enlargement of the Festival towards the western area of the valley. Thus, from the seventh edition, which in 2004 records the participation of one hundred choirs, five other towns are involved in the organization of the Festival, reaching Brunico with its concerts. From the following edition the Festival covers also the eastern side of Val Pusteria, overcoming the Austrian border, with concerts in Sillian and in Villgratten valley. In 2006 the first great all day long “Tirolese Feast” is inserted, purposely set in Villabassa for the Festival.
Currently, the Festival programme carries out in the eleven towns spread along the Val Pusteria between Brunico and Sillian and in the three lateral valleys of Anterselva, Braies and Casies.
The variety of the venues and the wide performed repertoire - in ten editions the Festival recorded the participation of 620 choirs and more than 23.000 choristers - place it as not only one of the most spectacular international choral events, but also an extraordinary moment for the encounter of different musical traditions.
Tenth Edition, June 20 – 24 2007
"A GREAT CHORAL MUSIC FEAST"
The tenth edition has seen the participation of 99 choirs and about 3600 choristers coming, apart from Italy, from Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Ireland, Israeli, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal, Czech Republic, Rumania, Slovenia, South Africa, Hungary. For five days the entire valley turned into a theatre: up to 40 venues, as concert halls, churches, castles, besides the most suggestive natural sceneries of Val Pusteria, have been the stage of 70 concerts.
Among the news of the tenth edition, we must point out the participation of the Female Choir of Yongin from South Korea - first participating choir from that country - and the Chorale of Honolulu from Hawaii.
Once again, the highlight of the Festival has been the big “Choirs’ Parade” in San Candido: all participant choristers walked along the streets of the town centre, thus creating a cheerful and colourful procession, meeting at “Piazza del Magistrato” and performing some songs together.
The Festival ended with the traditional “Festa dell’Arrivederci” in Sesto. During this traditional closing ceremony all participating choirs exchanged gifts and receive a participation certificate.
Participant Countries
Argentine
Lithuania
Austria
Norway
Bulgaria
Philippine
Colombia
Poland
South Korea
Portugal
Croatia
Rumania
Czech Republic
Russia
Denmark
Slovakia
Estonia
Slovenia
Finland
Southafrica
Germany
Spain
Greece
Sweden
Hungary
Switzerland
Ireland
Turkey
Israeli
Ucraina
Italy
USA
Lettonia
Participant Choirs
year
Choirs
1998
22
1999
26
2000
41
2001
60
2002
61
2003
80
2004
100
2005*
85*
2006*
75*
2007*
99*
* limited registration editions
FESTIVAL
SECRETARIAT
c/o Associazione Culturale Flaminia 2000 - Via
E. Albertario, 62 - 00167
Roma
E-mail
info@festivalpusteria.org
