The Festival della Valle d’Itria in Martina Franca has announced that Silvia Colasanti will be the new Artistic Director and the head of the Accademia del Belcanto “Rodolfo Celletti.”

Colasanti, a renowned composer, stated, “I take on the artistic direction of the Martina Franca Valle d’Itria Festival and the ‘Rodolfo Celletti’ Belcanto Academy with the understanding that I inherit a significant and valuable legacy. This legacy has been nurtured by the passion and intelligence of my predecessors and by the numerous talents who have contributed each year to the creation of the productions. My aim is to explore new horizons, revive underrepresented works on stage, illuminate neglected compositional paths, engage with the community, and support young artists. This is the essence of the Festival, which I also intend to enrich with the lessons of the 20th century, the evolution of musical theatre, the promotion of creativity and contemporary languages, and the opportunity to express today’s complexities with authentic energy. The goal is to provoke historical reflection and show how current aesthetic diversity results from various approaches to reinterpreting and understanding tradition, while maintaining continuity and dialogue with the past.”

The announcement was made by the festival’s board members, including Michele Punzi (Centro Artistico Musicale “Paolo Grassi”), Gianfranco Palmisano (Comune di Martina Franca), Roberto Venneri (Regione Puglia), Stefano Semeraro (Provincia di Taranto), and Piermassimo Chirulli (Comune di Cisternino).

Colasanti has composed numerous works, including “Oltre l’azzurro,” “Esercizi per non dire addio,” “Tre risvegli,” “Minotauro,” and “Proserpine.”