La Musica al Centro 2026 in Reggio Calabria: A.Gi.Mus. concerts from 18 October to 20 December

Seminario Arcivescovile Pio XI · Reggio Calabria, Costa Viola, Calabria

18 October 2026 – 20 December 2026

From 18 October to 20 December 2026 the Reggio Calabria branch of A.Gi.Mus., the Italian Youth Music Association, presents the last six concerts of the 8th edition of «La Musica al Centro» (Music at the Centre), its concert season. Five take place at the Seminario Arcivescovile «Pio XI» on Viale Pio XI, in the Aula Magna «Mons. Mondello» and the main chapel of San Paolo, and one in the foyer of the Teatro Cilea. It opens on Sunday 18 October at 7pm with the guitar duo «Concorde», followed by the oratorio «Francesco, il fuoco dell'amore» for the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis, «Persefone» with narration, guitar and live painting, an evening for organ and choir, and arias by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini and Mozart. The season ends on Sunday 20 December at 7:30pm with its Christmas concert, «Ch'è dduci stu figghjiu», a choral showcase of folk songs in Calabrian dialect. The sources do not give admission prices: information on +39 347 787 6307 and agimusrc@gmail.com.

The season, the organisers and the venues

«La Musica al Centro» is the concert season of the Reggio Calabria metropolitan branch of A.Gi.Mus., the Italian Youth Music Association, now in its 8th edition. The branch is chaired by Alessandro Bagnato, with Claudio Bagnato as artistic director; the poster carries the logo of the Italian Ministry of Culture's Directorate-General for the Performing Arts. The seven concerts run from September to December: the first, «Echi nella nebbia» with the Ensemble of the «P. Benintende» Orchestra, took place on 26 September in the church of San Giuseppe al Corso, so six remain.

Five concerts are held at the Seminario Arcivescovile «Pio XI», Viale Pio XI 236, in the Aula Magna «Mons. Mondello» or the main chapel, the Cappella Maggiore «San Paolo»; the one on 26 November moves to the foyer of the Teatro Francesco Cilea on Corso Garibaldi. The project puts young musicians on stage alongside professional orchestra players, partly with the «T. Gullì» music high school.

October: the «Concorde» duo and the oratorio for St Francis

On Sunday 18 October at 7pm, in the Aula Magna «Mons. Mondello», the guitar duo of Claudio Bagnato and Antonio Barresi presents «Concorde»: music by Ferdinando Carulli, Gaspar Sanz, Heitor Villa-Lobos and Fernando Sor, pieces by Claudio Bagnato himself and the première of «Learning to Swim» by Alessandro Bagnato. The A.Gi.Mus. website gives an end time of around 8:30pm.

On Saturday 24 October at 7:30pm the Cappella Maggiore «San Paolo» hosts «Francesco, il fuoco dell'amore» (Francis, the Fire of Love), a sacred oratorio for soloists, choir and organ composed and conducted by Alessandro Bagnato, with the Ensemble of the «P. Benintende» Orchestra and the U.C.C.M. Choir of Reggio Calabria. It is part of the events marking 800 years since the death of St Francis of Assisi in 1226, a musical reflection on the spiritual and human values associated with the saint.

November: «Persefone», «Tra cielo e terra» and «Vissi d'arte»

On Saturday 7 November at 7pm the Aula Magna hosts «Persefone», a project in which music meets the spoken word and the visual arts: Serena Cara narrates, Antonio Barresi plays the guitar and Pietro Adornato creates live art. On Saturday 14 November at 7:30pm, in the Cappella Maggiore, «Tra cielo e terra» (Between Heaven and Earth) brings together Alberto Brigandì on the organ and the U.C.C.M. Choir conducted by Claudio Bagnato; according to the season's presentation, the brass of the «P. Benintende» Orchestra also take part.

On Thursday 26 November at 7pm the season moves to the foyer of the Teatro Cilea for «Vissi d'arte», a concert by the singing class of soprano Serenella Fraschini: music by Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, Gioachino Rossini and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, performed by young singers in training. The title is that of Tosca's aria in Puccini's opera.

Sunday 20 December, the Christmas concert: «Ch'è dduci stu figghjiu»

On Sunday 20 December at 7:30pm, five days before Christmas, the Cappella Maggiore «San Paolo» hosts the last concert of the season: the 5th edition of «Ch'è dduci stu figghjiu», a choral showcase of compositions and arrangements of folk songs in Calabrian dialect. The title means «how sweet this child is». Choirs from Reggio Calabria and its province take part, with the brass of the «P. Benintende» Orchestra, the U.C.C.M. Choir conducted by Claudio Bagnato and Alberto Brigandì on the organ.

The list of 2026 choirs has not been published yet. The 4th edition, on 13 December 2025 in the church of San Giuseppe al Corso, brought together six groups: the «Note Celesti» children's choir, the «Mater Dei» polyphonic choir and the «San Paolo», «Sacro Cuore», «Santa Cecilia» and «Cosma Passalacqua» polyphonic choirs, with Mario Latella, an expert in traditional instruments. It is the season's concert devoted to Calabrian folk repertoire.

Admission, times and contacts

The official sources, namely the poster, the national A.Gi.Mus. website and the Metropolitan City's URP listing, do not say whether admission is free or ticketed, and mention no online sale. To find out how to attend and whether booking is needed, call +39 347 787 6307 or +39 335 191 0426, or email agimusrc@gmail.com.

For dates, the official poster is the reference, confirmed by the association's website and the URP: September press releases gave 14 October for «Concorde» and 4 October for «Francesco, il fuoco dell'amore», dates later moved to 18 and 24 October. The start times of «Tra cielo e terra» and the 20 December concert also differ: 7:30pm on the poster, 7pm in the press releases, so it is worth arriving a little before the earlier time.

What is A.Gi.Mus.?

A.Gi.Mus., the Associazione Giovanile Musicale (Youth Music Association), is a non-profit association founded in Rome in 1949 to foster a love of music among young people. Its statute was approved by the Ministry of Education, and today its local branches organise around 500 concerts a year across Italy, choosing historic and artistic venues as well as hospitals and prisons. Musicians such as Uto Ughi and Severino Gazzelloni played in its seasons early in their careers, and more recently Stefano Bollani and Danilo Rea.

Alongside the season, the Reggio Calabria branch runs other projects in 2026: the first «Pasquale Benintende» International Competition for opera singers, the «La Forma Persa» composition competition inspired by Claude Monet's paintings, concert-lessons for schools and the «Una voce per Giorgio Fazari» memorial on road safety. Its partners include the Reale Accademia Filarmonica di Gerace and the «Dante Alighieri» University for Foreigners.

Getting there and what to see in Reggio Calabria

The Seminario Arcivescovile «Pio XI» is at Viale Pio XI 236; the Teatro Cilea is on Corso Garibaldi, the main street of the city centre. From the north, the A2 motorway ends in Reggio Calabria; by train, get off at Reggio Calabria Centrale, and the Strait airport is a few kilometres from the centre. The sources do not mention parking reserved for concert-goers.

Concerts start between 7pm and 7:30pm, which leaves time for a stroll in the centre beforehand: the Falcomatà seafront runs parallel to Corso Garibaldi, a short walk from the Teatro Cilea, while the National Archaeological Museum, home of the Riace Bronzes, is best visited during the day. For other Christmas events in the city and the province, see the events calendar.

Frequently asked questions

What are the dates of La Musica al Centro 2026?

Six concerts remain: 18 October at 7pm, 24 October at 7:30pm, 7 November at 7pm, 14 November at 7:30pm, 26 November at 7pm and 20 December at 7:30pm. The first concert, on 26 September, has already taken place.

Is the first concert on 14 or 18 October?

On Sunday 18 October at 7pm, in the Aula Magna of the Seminario Arcivescovile «Pio XI», as shown on the official poster and the A.Gi.Mus. website. 14 October was the date in the first September press releases and has since changed.

When is the La Musica al Centro Christmas concert?

On Sunday 20 December 2026 at 7:30pm in the Cappella Maggiore «San Paolo» of the Seminario Arcivescovile «Pio XI»: it is the 5th edition of the choral showcase «Ch'è dduci stu figghjiu».

What will be performed on 20 December?

Compositions and arrangements of folk songs in Calabrian dialect, sung by choirs from Reggio Calabria and its province with the brass of the «P. Benintende» Orchestra, the U.C.C.M. Choir conducted by Claudio Bagnato and Alberto Brigandì on the organ.

Where are the concerts held?

At the Seminario Arcivescovile «Pio XI», Viale Pio XI 236, in the Aula Magna «Mons. Mondello» or the Cappella Maggiore «San Paolo». On 26 November the concert is in the foyer of the Teatro Cilea on Corso Garibaldi.

Is admission free?

The official sources do not say. To find out how to attend, call +39 347 787 6307 or email agimusrc@gmail.com.

Who organises the season?

The Reggio Calabria metropolitan branch of A.Gi.Mus., chaired by Alessandro Bagnato with Claudio Bagnato as artistic director. The poster carries the logo of the Ministry of Culture's Directorate-General for the Performing Arts.

What is A.Gi.Mus.?

It is the Associazione Giovanile Musicale (Youth Music Association), founded in Rome in 1949 to bring young people closer to music and give young performers a stage. Today it has local branches all over Italy.

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