The review “Music in the Castle” has been offering since yesterday, Friday 31 May until 14 Julyone show really special “The art of the luthier”born from the collaboration between i Municipalities of Moncalieri and Volpianoin the evocative setting of the apartments of the princesses Maria Clotilde and Maria Letizia Royal Savoy Residence of Moncalieri.
Protagonists of the exhibition, the stringed instruments made by master luthier from Volpiano, Giuseppe Silvio Martina, one of the oldest Italian manufacturers of musical instruments. Martina, 90 years old and very well behaved, is originally from Centallo in the province of Cuneo, but has lived and worked in Volpiano for some time. He has cultivated his passion for music since he was a child, strumming his father’s mandolin and singing at village festivals, starting then to build self-taught instruments, until retirement when he was finally able to dedicate himself full time to what had always been his passion: violin making, learning the trade from the most famous Piedmontese professionals of the time. And since then he hasn’t stopped, creating around fifty violins, 40 mandolins and the same number of guitars, but also violas and cellos.
In the exhibition, visitors will be able to carry out a real journey through the art of violin making, to discover the techniques and essences of the woods used to create the instruments. A historical section is dedicated to the figure of Rosario Scaleroviolinist and composer, originally from Moncalieri and nephew of the gamekeeper of Vittorio Emanuele II with particular attention to the links between the royal residence of Moncalieri and the House of Savoy, and interesting unpublished news, thanks to the collaboration ofInstitute for Musical Heritage in Piedmontee of theGeneral Archive of the Municipality of Moncalieri.
Ancient books linked to the world of stringed musical instruments and Risorgimento scores, kindly loaned by private collectors, also enrich the sections into which the exhibition itinerary is divided. To complete the route we also add the reconstruction of a small violin making workshopwhere visitors can admire the tools, shapes and models used by Martina to create her instruments.
During the inauguration a film was also screened docufilm on Martina’s lifeproduced by the kids participating in the project Opicinema of the Municipality of Volpiano with the direction of Viren Beltramo. Together with Martina’s instruments it was possible to appreciate numerous musical scores thanks to the precious collaboration of Pierangelo Calvo.
«I believe that the creation of this exhibition represents the best tribute to the Volpiano excellence represented by Mr. Martina – comments Panichelli – to whom we had already dedicated an evening in the “Meeting with the author” event in 2023. Furthermore, for me it is a great honor to be present in this wonderful Castle and for this opportunity I want to thank Pierangelo Calvo for the work done and for having facilitated contact with the director of the castle, Riccardo Vitale and with his staff whom I thank. I address particular appreciation to the mayor of the city of Moncalieri Paolo Montagna for attending the inauguration and the director Viren Beltramo for the quality of the work together with the culture councilor of the Municipality of Volpiano Barbara Sapino”.
Around the exhibition, inaugurated yesterday in the presence of the mayors Moncalieri and Volpiano, Paolo Montagna and Giovanni Panichelli and by the historian from Volpiano Pierangelo Calvoa comprehensive program of musical and cultural events
Saturday 8 June at 10.30 am Palazzo Oliveri, headquarters of the “Lessona” Musical Institute, in Volpianoconcert “The Music of the Strings” free entry (Info: 329 2941482; www.associazionelessona.it); at 5pm, in the Conference Room of the Moncalieri Castle – Maria Letizia’s Apartment – concert of the winners of the XXV edition of the international competition “Luigi Nono” with Mio Sasaki (violin), Nao Ueda (piano), in collaboration with the Musica Viva Association
Paid entry with ticketing on site (reservation required at the link https://bit.ly/4bNqptf).
Sunday 16 June at 3pm at Moncalieri Castle – Rose Garden – concert “Symphonies in the Rose Garden”guest of honor the conductor Lorenzo Pusceddu, in collaboration with Sacred Valley Philharmonic Association “Michele Romana” and the musical band “La Primavera”. Free entry while places last (event guaranteed in case of bad weather).
Friday 21 June at 4.30pm on the occasion of the Music Festivalat the Moncalieri Castle – Conference room of Maria Letizia’s apartment – concert “To all Bach” with Giulio Sanna (cello), in collaboration withMusica Viva Association. Paid entrance with ticketing on site (reservation required: https://bit.ly/4bNqptf); at 5.30 pm in the conference room, presentation of the book “Rosario Scalero. A master between two worlds”, edited by Stefano Baldi, published by Libreria Musicale Italiana in collaboration with the Institute for Musical Heritage in Piedmont. Free entry (reservation required: https://bit.ly/4bNqptf).
Saturday 29 June at 5pm at Moncalieri Castle – Conference room of Maria Letizia’s apartment – concert “From the choir to the heart. Vibrations of the soul”in collaboration with Imago Vocis – Volpiano Polyphonic Choir and “Lessona” Musical Institute of Volpiano. Free entry (reservation required: https://bit.ly/4bNqptf)
Timetable of the exhibition “The art of the luthier”: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 10am to 6pm (last entry at 5pm). Closed from Monday to Thursday.
Tickets: full price 7 euros; reduced 5. Info: www.lavenaria.it – 011 4992333.
