The city of Cortona is a transparent window of Italian history, cultural indulgence, and artistic delectability, as embodied by the annual Mix Festival. From July 19 – 23, the event will showcase the convergence of literature, music, cinema, dance, photography, and the beloved practice of yoga. Serving as the portal of celebration and artistic integrity, the festival will provide spectators with a small taste of what Italy’s contemporary traditions offer.
A number of influential figures in contemporary culture will be arriving to Cortona from all parts of the globe, along with political figures. The Senate President, Pietro Grasso, will connect with the audience to explain the last decade of Italy’s history (July 20, 7 pm, Centro Sant’ Agostino), while Nicola Piovani, co-founder of the festival with conduct the Tuscan Regional Orchestra (July 21, 7 pm, Centro Sant’ Agostino).
There will be excitement at every corner, as a large number of events will attract the public. Streets and squares of Cortona will be painted with dance and poems of Secret Pieces, the Girifalco Fortress will serve as a sanctuary of meditation during the Yoga Mix Sessions, and the Museo dell’ Accademia Etrusca will host the festival’s bookstore.
The literary agenda of the festival explore the mystical of fiction, the factuality of autobiographical memory, and what is powerful enough to be remembered, and insignificant enough to be forgotten. It dashes through time, eras, and trends. Actor Luca Barbareschi will present his first novel Cercando segnali d’amore nell’universo (July 20, Centro Sant’Agostino). Hanif Kureishi, British writer and dramatist, will talk about his book Uno Zero, that reflects the topics of intimacy, revenge, and sternness (July 23, 7 pm, Centro Sant’ Agostino).
Another writer, Elena Favilli, will explore the economic aspect of writing, and will explain how she managed to publish the most funded book ever through donations from the public (July 23, 11:30 am, Logge del Tearo Signorelli) The book, Storie della Buonanotte per Bambine Ribelli (Bedtime Stories for Rebel Girls) was so successful based on its content of the celebration of inspirational women, that it has been translated into 12 languages.
Music will fill the streets with sounds ranging from folk, jazz, punk, classical, and pop rock, including the experimental concoctions of Baustelle (July 23, 9:30 pm, Piazza Signorelli) who will celebrate their history as an indie band. Bruce Springsteen’s legendary drummer, Max Weinberg, of E Street Band will bring the Piazza Signorelli alive, with his new project collaborated with the Siena Jazz University (July 21, 9:30 pm, Pizza Signorelli).
Adding to its massive list of activities, the Cortona Mix Festival will offer four renowned documentaries and films created in the last 18 months. One of these includes, Raoul Peck’s I Am Not Your Negro earning a nomination for an Oscar in 2017, which travels back in time to the struggles surrounding the black community in the US (July 20, 3 pm, Teatro Signorelli).
Schedules for the festival can be found in the program, which can be viewed on the festival’s website, www.cortonamixfestival.it. Concert tickets can be pre-purchased at the ticket office (Terretrusche, via Nazionale 42 / www.ticketing.terretrusche.com ), Circuito Box Office Toscana (Officine della Cultura, Trasimeno Street 16 / www.boxifficetoascana.it ) and on www.boxol.it .
For more information, contact 0575 637274, or by email at info@mixfestival.it (jennifer klammer)
