MUSIC IN SORRENTO

During July to September, the Sorrento Festival includes performances of classical and jazz concerts, in traditional and contemporary styles. These are held at four venues: the Cloister of St Franciso in Sorrento, Villa Fondi in Piano di Sorrento, Villa Angelina in Massa Lubrense and the Cathedral of Lauro in Meta di Sorrento.

Evening classical music concerts are also held in the beautiful surroundings of the Grand Cocumella Hotel during June to October.

Traditional Neapolitan Music with traditional costumes and dancing can be enjoyed at a number of venues in the centre of Sorrento throughout the year.

Hotel Gardenia
Ibsen Park
Villa San Michele. Anacapri
Foreigners Club Sorrento
Jazz festivals: Naples Aug, Sant'Agnello Ischia Sept, Sorrento Aug/sept
Villa Fiorentino. Stages shows Aug
Cloister of St Francis

Even during the day you will never be far from music, with street entertainers playing jazz or traditional Neapolitan ballads. See video clips for examples.

The song Torna a Surriento (Come back to Sorrento) has helped keep this location in the minds of people throughout the world. Enrico Caruso and Luciano Pavarotti not only sung about Sorrento but also stayed there.

This photograph of Caruso was taken on a terrace at the ExcelsiorVittoria Hotel where he stayed and has a suite named after him. (Caruso photo by kind permission of the Excelsior Vittoria Hotel)

The Caruso Restaurant in Sorrento is also a museum dedicated to Caruso with hundreds of photographs, documents and records of the famous tenor.

Music outside Sorrento

Elsewhere on the Amalfi coast there is the The Ravello Music Festival, which includes the Wagner Festival, takes place in the breath-taking setting of Villa Rufolo Gardens and Auditorium high above the Bay. This festival lasts throughout the summer months and includes Chamber music at St. Rose Convent in Conca dei Marini town.

On Ischia, La Mortella Gardens, owned by the Sir William Walton Trust, is the venue for recitals and concerts from April to August.

Between July and August is a Jazz Festival at Minori, a town on the coast overlooked by Ravello

In Naples there is of course a wide selection of musical and cultural attractions including the San Carlo Opera House.

Contact details and web addresses for the events and organisations mentioned in this guide can be found on the Friends of Sorrento directory