From Industrial Complex to Musical Sanctuary
The Origins of Lingotto Musica
The birth of Lingotto Musica is deeply rooted in the history of repurposing the eponymous Turin industrial complex for musical purposes. The story begins with a pioneering concert in 1990, when Claudio Abbado and the Wiener Philharmoniker transformed the former press room of the factory into an acoustic marvel. This groundbreaking event sparked the vision of creating an auditorium within the Lingotto building, which was later named after Giovanni Agnelli and designed by architect Renzo Piano in collaboration with acoustical engineer Helmut Müller.
On May 6, 1994, Claudio Abbado once again graced the stage, this time conducting the Berliner Philharmoniker.The resounding notes of Mahler’s Ninth Symphony filled the renovated walls of the old factory, marking the triumphant inauguration of the auditorium and launching the highly successful “I Concerti del Lingotto” Series.
The Establishment of the Organization
The formal establishment of the institution in November 1997 marked a turning point for the Lingotto’s musical events, introducing regular symphonic seasons. Its founder and artistic director for nearly three decades was Francesca Gentile Camerana, an iconic figure in Turin’s cultural scene who brought many of the world’s leading orchestras, conductors, and soloists to Lingotto Musica. Filippo Beraudo di Pralormo served as the association’s first president, followed by Franzo Grande Stevens in 2003 and Gianluigi Gabetti the following year. Lodovico Passerin d’Entrèves held the presidency from 2016 to 2018, and Giuseppe Proto subsequently assumed the role. Since July 2022, Luca Mortarotti has been the director of Lingotto Musica.
A Legacy of Excellence:
“I Concerti del Lingotto” Series
Over the years, Lingotto Musica’s programming has always stood out for the quality and variety of its musical offer, which includes symphonic, sacred, and chamber music from every era and origin. The Berliner and Wiener Philharmoniker, the Chicago and London Symphony, the Mariinsky Orchestra, conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, Valery Gergiev and Daniel Harding, as well as renowned soloists like Martha Argerich and Yo-Yo Ma, are just a few of the world-famous artists who have performed on the stage of the Agnelli Auditorium, demonstrating to the institution’s commitment to excellence.
A Panorama of Piano Mastery: “I Pianisti del Lingotto” Series
The 2024-25 Season introduces “I Pianisti del Lingotto” Series, a celebration of the various styles and interpretations of the world’s leading classical pianists. In the intimate setting of Sala 500, a few remarkable artists – such as Angela Hewitt, Igor Levit, Rafał Blechacz, Leif Ove Andsnes, Nelson Goerner, Alexandra Dovgan and Marie-Ange Nguci – presented a broad overview of the piano repertoire, tracing its evolution from the Baroque era to the present day.
Special Projects
In addition to its main program, Lingotto Musica offers a series of initiatives designed to engage the local community in iconic locations around the city and beyond. These include the afternoon chamber music series “Natale in Reggia” at the Venaria Reale, which enriches the program of exhibitions and cultural activities of the 17th-century Savoy residence during the Christmas holidays, and the “Sotto lo stesso cielo” festival, a new three-year project co-produced with the Fondazione Sermig – Arsenale della Pace. This project is conceived with the aim of bringing musical culture to the city’s outskirts, beyond the usual confines of concert halls. Furthermore, Lingotto Musica promotes a wide range of informative lectures and educational activities aimed at primary and secondary schools, with projects differentiated by age groups. The goal is to foster a love of classical music among both current and future audiences.
Previous Projects
To avoid limiting its seasons solely to large-scale international concerts, in 1999 the chamber music series “Giovani per i giovani” was launched, aimed at showcasing emerging talents, both Italian and foreign, from the latest generations. Held in Sala 500, until the 2023-24 Season it changed its name and format – becoming “Giovani per tutti” in 2005 and “Lingotto Giovani” in 2014 – with the strong appeal of being dedicated to the winners of the most prestigious instrumental competitions.
Beyond the Piedmontese borders, the “Note dal Cammino Balteo” project, carried out from 2022 to 2024 in collaboration with the Office Régional du Tourisme and the Consiglio Regionale della Valle d’Aosta, has enhanced the hiking trail that runs at low and medium altitudes in the Aosta Valley, bringing music to the most representative villages, castles, and churches.
A special mention must be made of the organization’s involvement in the “Sintonie” project, inspired by Claudio Abbado and supported by the Piedmont Region and the City of Turin. This cultural and musical initiative was entrusted exclusively to Daniel Harding and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra in 2003 and continued until 2006, the year of the Turin Olympics.
The project involved Turin institutions such as the Civic Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art, the Pinacoteca Agnelli, the Italian Photography Foundation, the National Museum of Cinema, and the Turin National Theatre. The result of this three-year period was 12 concerts during which, among other works, the complete Beethoven Symphonies, Haydn’s Creation, Berg’s Wozzeck, and Bach’s St. Matthew Passion were performed.