Welcome to Venice!
IN SPRING, 2023, THE VENICE MANDOLIN FESTIVAL INVITES
music lovers and players of the mandolin, mandola and guitar, of all levels, as well as mandolin and guitar orchestras, professional players and conductors, from all over the world, to enjoy great music and art in Venice. How would you and your mandolin orchestra like to make music in Venice, one of the most beautiful cities in the world?
Come to Venice and give concerts in incredibly beautiful churches and palaces dating back to the Middle Ages. And play Verdi and Puccini in the huge joint mandolin orchestra at a gala evening in the spirit of the Carnival of Venice. In May, 2023, the Venice Mandolin Festival will continue the unique tradition of a mandolin festival in Venice, a festival of concerts for everybody who loves to play and hear the mandolin, mandola and guitar.
Yet again, this exciting event will bring together enthusiasts from all over the world to play, to meet, exchange stories and ideas, and form international friendships. Who knows where it can lead? Get in touch with us so we can tell you more about how the Festival works.
• Come to amazing Venice and enjoy being part of this very special international musical community. Everyone is welcome!
• Come to Venice and be part of THE VENICE MANDOLIN FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA! This project orchestra is open to everybody.
THE VENICE MANDOLIN FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
The repertoire includes baroque and classical music, greatly loved music from the opera, and both happy and sad Neapolitan songs (don’t forget your paper handkerchieves!) not to mention music by leading modern plucked string composers like Yasuo Kuwahara. There are mandolin concertos by legendary 18th century Venetian composers such as Vivaldi and Hasse, or Kuwahara’s emotional "Song of Japanese Autumn”.
At the Mandolin & Opera Gala Concert and Carnival Party, we will be joined by leading professional singers from famous Italian opera houses.
The Party music will include greatly loved songs from the Opera like The Prisoners’ Chorus from Nabucco, the Drinking Song from La Traviata, Nessun Dorma from Turandot and more. And then the most loved Neapolitan songs like O Sole Mio, Come Back to Sorrento, Canta pè me, Santa Lucia, Funiculi Funicula and more. If you have your favourite music, please let us know, and perhaps we can include it in our planning.
THE CONCERTS
Concerts will be held in the heart of Venice and on the beautiful island of Lido, 15 minutes from St Mark’s Square by vaporetto
(water bus) number 1.
The general details are based on our experience at previous Festivals
• Both artistically and organisationally, it’s best if each visiting ensemble presents one complete concert of its own.
• Each concert should last about 60 minutes.
• You can rehearse before your performance for up to three hours in the church or concert hall where the concert will take place.
At the closing Gala Concerto & Carnival Style Party,
we hope that all guest orchestras, individual participants and small ensembles will play in the Venice Mandolin Festival Orchestra.
• The VMFO will rehearse Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
• The Festival Orchestra is directed by a professional conductor with special experience in the field of mandolin orchestras.
• The Orchestra is open to all players from guest orchestras, individual participants and small ensembles.
• The VMFO will give a concert of its own, and also perform at the closing gala concert on Saturday evening.
• This concert will also include a performance of Baroque dances with the Venetian dance master Roberto Barison and his troupe.
Do you have any questions?
It is impossible to explain everything on a website, so please contact us with your particular questions about the Venice Mandolin Festival. We will do our best to answer them. Do not hesitate to ask anything that interests you!
INFORMATION
THE VENICE MANDOLIN FESTIVAL:
Wednesday 3 May:
19:30 inaguration concert.
Thursday 4 May:
9:00 rehearsal, 13: 00 break,
16:00 concert & 19:30 concert.
Friday 5 May:
9:00 rehearsal, 13: 00 break,
16:00 concert & 19:30 concert.
Saturday 6 May:
10:00 rehearsal, 13: 00 break,
16:00 concert & 19:30 concert & party.
THE PRICE INCLUDES:
Playing in The Venice Mandolin Festival Orchestra.
All concerts, own & joint concerts.
All rehearsals, own & joint rehearsals.
Administration and preparations. Marketing - posters - advertising.
Rent of chuches & locations in Venice.
Rent of rehearsal hall. Gala concert & Carnival party with snacks and prosecco in a private location.
PARTICIPATION FEE:
Euro € 144 / person for adults
Euro € 116 / person for students
Euro € 32 / person for companions
ACCOMMODATION & TRANSPORT: Accommodation, transport in Italy and flights to and from Italy, food & drinks are not included in the price, except snacks and prosecco in the final party. You do best to book your own hotel or private apartment in Venice that you can easily find online.
EXTRA DAYS:
For those of you who come to Venice earlier or stay a few days extra, we can arrange a guided tour. We visit cafes, ice cream bars (gelaterie), wine cellars. We look at architecture, art and tell the story of Vivaldi. Euro € 10 / person
THE FINAL GALA CONCERT AND THE CARNIVAL PARTY OF THE VENICE MANDOLIN FESTIVAL
A joint concert and party with The Venice Mandolin Festival Orchestra, Opera Singers & Artists from The Carnevale di Venezia
Our opera soloists and dancers from Carnevale di Venezia, are all humble, very friendly and professional artists.
Everyone is used to make music and collaborate with mandolin orchestras both in Venice and abroad.
The collaboration and exchange concerts have been going on since 1998.
PURE ENJOYMENT
The Festival ends with an 18th century style gala. It's a private party, like the ones Venetian aristocrats 200 years ago would have enjoyed. The revellers this time are the participants in the Venice Mandolin Festival, the Opera da Camera di Venezia, with soloists and dancing masters, performers from the renowned Carnival in Venice - many in period dress - and you and your friends.
DANCING MASTER ROBERTO BARISON IS A VENETIAN ORIGINAL
He and his dance associates, Ricercardanzando, are among Italy’s most celebrated dance ensembles. They will introduce you to the delights of the 18th century ballroom. They know what you need to know to get started, and under their gentle but masterful expert guidance, you will soon forget yourself and be part of the revelry as much as the experienced dancers.
IN MASCHERA - A MASKED BALL
In a private location, the guests dance an elegant and stately minuet - that most courtly of courtly dances. If you want to dress up in 18th century style, or wear fanciful costumes and fantastic head-gear or masks - just anything suitable to the cultivated madness of a Carnival in Venice - feel free. Do whatever your imagination desires.
Reservation for any changes
* * *
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DRESS IN INSPIRATION
of a Venetian masquerade ball
THE DANCE ENSEMBLE RICERCARDANZANDO
Dance master Roberto Barison from Venice and his dance ensemble
Ricercardanzando belong to one of Italy's most
requested dance ensembles.
* * *
CAMERATA MANDOLINO CLASSICO PLAYS VIVALDI & BACH
A mandolin and guitar orchestra from Sweden - Lars Forslund, conductor
A MANDOLIN & OPERA GALA CONCERTO WITH CARNIVAL PARTY AND BAROQUE DANCE
We will hold the final mandolin & opera gala concerto and the carnival party in a private location
LARS FORSLUND PLAYS BACH - AN INSPIREING WINE CONCERTO
Lars plays on a mandolin built by Gabriele Pandini, Italy
LARS FORSLUND PLAYS BACH - AN INSPIREING CAFÉ CONCERTO
Lars plays on a mandolin built by Gabriele Pandini, Italy
LARS FORSLUND PLAYS SCARLATTI WITH VENETIAN FRIENDS
Lars plays on a mandolin built by Daigoro Ochiai, Japan
Please contact us with your questions about The Venice Mandolin Festival.
We have much more to tell you about the organisation, soloists,
orchestras, concerts, repertory, the big party and so on.
We are very happy to try to answer your questions.
Don't hesitate to ask everything you wonder!
To apply or find out more about The Venice Mandolin Festival 2023
CAMERATA MANDOLINO CLASSICO PLAYS NÄSLUND
Concerto for guitar, Kenneth Frejd - guitar, Keith Harris - conductor - Omberg, Sweden 2007
Beautiful 3D films about The Carnival of Venice in the 18th century. Or play along to our soundtracks.
Music by Vivaldi, Scarlatti, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Näslund and others
