Festa della Musica di Asti

Why it's special

It's the city celebrating its own musicians rather than a touring show: the mandolin orchestra founded in 1924, the town band, the music school, local choirs and tribute groups, on the stage of the city theatre. Entry is free, so it's a cheap way to see the Alfieri from the inside on a November evening.

Programme · 2026

Organised by the Comune di Asti's culture department. Presented by Chiara Buratti.

• Entry is free, but you need a free ticket (contromarca) from the Teatro Alfieri box office, which hands them out from about ten days before: Tuesday and Thursday 10:00–17:00.
• Information on +39 0141 399057.

Every November, around the feast of Santa Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians, the Comune di Asti hands the stage of the Teatro Alfieri to the city's own musicians for a free evening. The line-up changes each year: the Orchestra Mandolinistica 'Pietro Paniati', founded in 1924 and named after the Asti mandolin virtuoso; the town band 'Giuseppe Cotti'; the teachers of the civic music school; local choirs and bands.

The music ranges from classical pieces to Italian songwriting: in 2026 the second half of the evening is De André's 'La Buona Novella', played in full by a tribute orchestra and a choir. The theatre is the horseshoe-shaped city theatre in the historic centre, also home to the winter theatre season. See what else is on in Asti.