In recent days it has been decidedly desired but – meteorologists assure – summer will reawaken from today. Just in time for the debut of the Modenese Summer 2024 of which – finally – the program was presented yesterday. More than 150 events in parks, courtyards, squares, sports centers and super cinemas, including 26 evenings at the Giardini Ducali, the ‘heart’ of the summer again this year. This year too the program – coordinated by the municipal department of culture – favors a varied fabric of initiatives involving at least twenty city associations: therefore no ‘spot’ events (even if there is no shortage of ‘big name’ evenings), but a myriad of concerts, recitals, readings, music and cabaret evenings. “It is an expanded program that extends across an expanded city – observes the mayor Massimo Mezzetti –. I like that even places that are normally less frequented are being revived: also in terms of safety, the city must be ‘occupied’ by all its citizens”.
And for the next few years – announces the mayor – we may also think about strengthening the event, in co-planning with the main supporters, such as the Modena Foundation and Hera. “For us the capillarity of initiatives is an important theme”, says Matteo Tiezzi, president of the Foundation. “And for us, contributing to the Modenese summer has a double meaning – adds Davide Bigarelli, Emilia management area manager of the Hera Group –. These initiatives are aimed above all at those who remain in the city. And we too, with our services, are always there , in every season”. The Modenese summer will be officially inaugurated on Saturday 29th at the Giardini with a concert by the American Joan Osborne, author of the hit “One of us”, in collaboration with the “Note al Lennon” festival in Castelnuovo Rangone. Among the events at the Giardini, on 11 July the concert by the eclectic singer-songwriter Venerus (in synergy with the Arti Vive Festival of Soliera), on 11 August the “Don Chisciotte” narrated in music by David Riondino, and for the evening of August a tribute to Giacomo Puccini, on the centenary of his death. And – unmissable, indispensable and always awaited – the evening of August 14th with Beppe Zagaglia who this year will also present an unreleased video of his on Modena cuisine. On Thursday 4 July Riccardo Benini will bring the pre-final of the Bertoli Prize to the Giardini, with the ‘challenge’ between 25 young singer-songwriters, then on 15 July he will offer the best of the Italian Comedy Festival. And there will also be space for dance, for example on Tuesday 2 July with the gala (directed by Mira Giangregorio) which will feature the best schools in Emilia Romagna and on Wednesday 10 with the triptych “D’amore e d’essere”. Then on August 7th (together with Clod and Fabio Bignardi) an evening in memory of Paul Campani and Secondo Bignardi, creators of unforgettable Caroselli.
From 15 to 17 July the summer will light up in Piazza Roma, with the three “Ducal Nights”, organized by Studio’s, which will also see the trumpeter Paolo Fresu and the much-loved Fiorella Mannoia on stage. And from 11 July the Melograno courtyard (at the Venturi Institute in via dei Servi) will host the new events of the “L’Altro Suono” festival of the Teatro Comunale: among the protagonists the actor Alessio Vassallo who will read pages by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and the L’Arte dell’Arco ensemble led by Federico Guglielmo. In addition, a myriad of initiatives in parks, green areas and sports facilities: in the Amendola park, for example, the great Italian singer-songwriters will be celebrated, with tributes to Fabrizio De André, Ivan Graziani, Lucio Battisti and Augusto Daolio, while in the park of the Resistance there will be aperitifs between the rows, and at the Polisportiva Morane a festival of emerging bands. In the Garden of Euphonia, theatrical improvisation shows, and in the Ovestlab space an initiative dedicated to what has disappeared from the Artisan Village. The complete program of the Modena Summer is on the website of the Municipality of Modena, www.comune.modena.it
