Not just 40 years of polyphonic music, but a journey marked by the memory of a great maestro, Don Antonio Sanna, a cultural and musical heritage of the city of Porto Torres and beyond. 2026 will be a year full of events for I Cantori della Resurrezione, starting with the traditional Musica Maestro! festival: the choral association celebrates the fortieth anniversary of its founding in 1986. To honor this anniversary, the organization founded by Don Antonio Sanna and now led by Maestro Fabio Fresi has developed a year-long program, expanding its usual cultural offerings. The initiative was presented this morning at the Palazzo del Marchese in Porto Torres. Those in attendance included the city councilor for culture, Maria Bastiana Cocco, the delegate for the Salude&Trigu project of the Chamber of Commerce, Danilo Spano, the president of I Cantori della Resurrezione, Miriam Porcu, and the festival's artistic director, Fabio Fresi.
In addition to the musical event "Musica, Maestro!", which will take place between May and June, the celebratory program includes three other special events: on July 25th, the city will host "Essere Cantori - 40 anni di Tradizione corole," a major "Reunion" concert, bringing back to the stage all the singers—about a hundred singers who have been part of the choir from 1986 to the present day. In December, a conference will be held entirely dedicated to the life and work of the founder, Don Antonio Sanna, who passed away in 2016. And in December, the month in which Don Sanna passed away, the jubilee year will close with another major event: a performance by one of the world's most acclaimed ensembles, whose name will be revealed in the coming months. The event is supported by the Municipality of Porto Torres, Salude&Trigu of the Sassari Chamber of Commerce, the Fondazione di Sardegna, Fersaco, Feniarco, and several sponsors, who will be thanked during the evenings. The collaboration of the Turritan parishes of Cristo Risorto and San Gavino was fundamental, as always.
In addition to the traditional "Musica, Maestro!" festival, which will take place between May and June, the celebratory program includes three other special events: on July 25th, the city will host "Essere Cantori - 40 anni di Tradizione corole," a major reunion concert bringing together all the singers who have been part of the choir from 1986 to the present; in December, a conference will be held entirely dedicated to the life and work of the founder, Don Antonio Sanna, who passed away in 2016; and also in December, the jubilee year will close with another major event: a performance by one of the world's most acclaimed ensembles (whose name will be revealed in the coming months). The centerpiece of the spring season will be the 15th edition of the music festival. All concerts, free of charge, will begin at 8:30 pm and will be introduced by a musical greeting performed by the Cantori della Resurrezione under the direction of Maestro Fabio Fresi. The program is spread over four evenings. On May 15th, the Church of Cristo Risorto will host the first evening dedicated to the "Melodies of Sardinia." The series will kick off by celebrating the island's roots with the renowned Tenores di Bitti "Remunnu 'e locu." Founded in 1974, the quartet is an international institution dedicated to preserving the age-old canto a tenore, a style unique to central Sardinia. On May 16th, again at Cristo Risorto, the "Incontri Polifonici" (Polyphonic Meetings) will be held, dedicated to the choral tradition, featuring two historic groups: the Choir of the G. Rossini Musical Association of Sassari (founded in 1992 and a national award-winning choir), directed by Clara Antoniciello, and the Collegium Karalitanum of Cagliari, one of the island's longest-running choirs (founded in 1973), directed by Giorgio Sanna.
On May 17th—the final event in the Church of Cristo Risorto—it will be the turn of "Vox Mulieris," with a musical journey titled "The Art of Women from the Middle Ages to Today," dedicated to the creativity of female composers from the 12th century to the contemporary era. The ensemble is composed of Valentina Satta (soprano), Cristina Mura (theorbo), Giorgio Oppo (viola da gamba), and Fabio Frigato (harpsichord). The grand finale will take place on June 6th in the Basilica of San Gavino, with their traditional international guest. Performing directly from Sweden will be the Ringmasters, one of the most internationally renowned a cappella vocal quartets, winners of the 2012 Barbershop World Championships. In Porto Torres, they will bring a program that combines a first part of sacred music with a second part that will captivate the audience with pop and virtuosic energy, presenting their jubilee show: "20 Years of Good Vibrations." "Reaching 40 years of history represents a fundamental milestone for us," said Fabio Fresi and Miriam Porcu, "the fruit of decades of dedication to music and polyphony. Throughout this long journey, the 'Musica, Maestro!' festival has taken on ever-increasing importance, steadily growing to become a point of reference for the entire region."
