Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari (1876–1948) was an Italian composer born in Venice to a German father and an Italian mother, a dual heritage that profoundly shaped his artistic identity. Trained in both countries, Wolf-Ferrari developed a distinctive musical language that combines Italian lyricism with German formal clarity. Widely celebrated during his lifetime, and particularly for his operas inspired by the tradition of commedia dell’arte, Wolf-Ferrari is increasingly recognized for his originality and his unique position at the crossroads of two major European musical cultures.

The evening takes the form of a portrait in words and music, with narration by Federica Zagatti Wolf-Ferrari, who will trace an intimate portrait of the composer, his family, and the cultural and artistic life of Venice at the turn of the twentieth century. Through music and storytelling, the program offers insight into Wolf-Ferrari’s life, his aesthetic world, and the environment in which his artistic voice emerged on the 150th anniversary of his birth.