Narnia Festival...When Do We Celebrate Again?

Scenic Vistas of Narni, Italy

Co-authored with Sriram Padmanabhan

It seems like a dream now. Even then, it felt like one. It was July 2019, an era before coronavirus, and we were in Narni, close to the geographical center of Italy, in the Umbria region. In this rustic setting, we found artisans who invested time and patience into perfecting their craft - makers of pasta, fine jewelry, metal artwork and of course, gelato. The cobbled streets, the relaxed and convivial people, the pizzerias, and charming coffee shops (oh, the cappuccino!) conspired to form the perfect backdrop for the town’s annual music festival. 

Handcrafted jewelry by Antonella

It was magical to have dozens of young artistes - some as young as seven - gather from around the world in this small medieval town. During a week of rehearsals for The Phantom of the Opera, performers got together under the curved arches of the town’s ancient Scolopi opposite the Mayor’s office. As they played as one, their sounds reverberated with a beautiful intensity. The acoustic quality and the multi-layered texture of what we heard was soul stirring, something that simply cannot be reproduced in even the highest quality recordings.  We found pianos dotting several locations around the town center, offering plenty of opportunity for students to practice on their own between rehearsals. There was even one in the Mayor’s office! The orchestra’s performance improved each day, shaped by the energetic guidance of artistic director, Cristiana Pegoraro and music director, Lorenzo Porzio. The poignant melody of the musical, the warm afternoon sun, and the gentle breeze from the Piazza dei Priori combined to make it a sensory delight that is etched in our memories. Lorenzo didn’t just conduct the orchestra with his arms, but brought his entire self to it, his whole body swaying to the rhythms of the music. We later learned that he is an Olympic medal winner in rowing...no wonder he had such a high level of energy throughout the day. During rehearsals, Lorenzo stopped abruptly when he sensed that the musicians were losing focus, took time to bring an out-of-tune group back in harmony, or gestured to a student who was off-tempo. Even though the main language spoken was Italian, it seemed like everyone understood each other through the universal language of music.

Rehearsals conducted by music director, Lorenzo.

There were ample breaks between rehearsals, just the right level of structure for a beginner pianist, enough challenge for an expert cellist, and something to stimulate every skill level in between. During the run-up to the final performance of The Phantom of the Opera, there were numerous other shows in venerable venues: one moment, we were taking in a heartfelt recital by master cellist Georgy Gusev at the Santa Maria Impensole (which was built a mere 850 years ago), another moment we were enjoying a wholesome string quartet inside the frescoed Chiesa di San Francesco (a relatively younger church, built in 1260), and at yet another time, we were tapping our feet to the beats of a Brazilian band at Vicolo Belvedere, in a quaint garden overlooking the verdant valley through which weaves the Nera river. It was nothing short of a musical feast in a region known as the Land of Saints.

Participants' recitals at frescoed churches

On Sunday, August 4th, dressed in black Narnia Music Festival T-shirts, the band assembled on stage. Strings and wind, percussion and piano, voice and dance, all came together for a grand finale in San Domenico, a Romanesque church converted into a majestic auditorium, a short walk from the Scolopi. It was an awe-inspiring show and a sumptuous toast to mark the culmination of the festival. Today, as we reflect on these memories, we are filled with a sense of hope and optimism. We will get together again. In groups. In near and far off places. Feeling safe and looking ahead to great adventures. This is a moment to acknowledge that experiences like the Narnia Music Festival are a privilege, a result of many minds and hearts coming together. We will celebrate again - it may not be as soon as we all want but the experience will be fonder than any of us can now imagine. 

The grand finale at San Domenico