Frequently asked
questions

The ‘I Suoni delle Dolomiti’ is an open-air music festival up in the Trentino mountains. The concerts take place amid rocky crags, alpine pastures and mountain lakes in a sensitive blend of the cultural and the natural. It aims to raise awareness among a wide audience about our mountains and their eloquent natural charms.

The festival runs over several weeks, as always. It embraces an array of musical genres from jazz to classical via world music, plus singer-songwriters and the occasional foray into pop. In other special events, we’ve brought readings, theatre performances and even opera to the mountains.

But the “I Suoni delle Dolomiti” is above all a big family of people working hard to organise everything down to the finest detail. People who help make every event on the programme a success. Loyal audiences who love what we do and who join us in taking care of the environment. And, of course, the generous, talented musicians who accept the unique challenges of working in the mountains, who give their all to bring their art out from the cities and high-tech concert halls into the wide open spaces and the splendour of nature, up close with their audience.

The ‘I Suoni delle Dolomiti’ made its debut on 1 July 1995 near the Brentei refuge, in the heart of the Brenta Dolomites. It was the brainchild and dream of Paolo Manfrini and Chiara Bassetti. Artistic Director is the top cellist Mario Brunello, who has supported the venture since its inception. And there have been many successful editions since. Summer after summer, artists of international prestige have joined us up in the Alps, and a great many music lovers and mountain aficionados have come to enjoy their performances. The “I Suoni delle Dolomiti” has established itself as a celebrated pioneer that has spawned many imitators.

Well, this is no ordinary festival, so things tend to happen at unusual times! Most of the concerts begin at 12 noon sharp, when the sun is at its zenith. Other special events take place at 6.30 a.m. – we call them ‘Le Albe delle Dolomiti’ (‘Dawn in the Dolomites’), as the notes begin to flow precisely when the sun peeps over the horizon.

The only “price” to pay is getting up early and tackling the mountain – while treating nature with due respect. But the effort is amply repaid. To reach the venues, you need to walk a bit – let’s say the concert is a privilege you have to earn! If you opt for the ski lift or a shuttle service, where available, you’ll have to pay for that yourself. So, the concerts are free of charge.

The festival is an initiative to promote the mountains and the wider Trentino region. The aim has always been to raise awareness of this sensitive habitat by marrying it with music. One thing that makes the festival unique is that the events are free – except for some indoor concerts and the Trekking projects; more on those below.

These are special projects that complement the festival’s cultural programme and add much to the visitor experience. These enriching adventures are offered as 3-day packages, where musicians and concertgoers tread the mountain paths together with alpine guides, sharing the experience of life in a mountain hut and enjoying exclusive, intimate concerts.

Unlike most of the performances on the programme, these are available only to a restricted number of participants, and there is a cost attached. The show times may vary depending on the weather, the group’s natural collective walking pace, and the inspiration offered by the surroundings

A number of events during I Suoni delle Dolomiti have been designed to accommodate people with motor and sensory disabilities. Thanks to Subpac (innovative audio-tactile technology that can be worn like backpacks and that vibrate to the beat of the music, allowing for sound perception) people with hearing impairments can also take part in these concerts.

Thanks to our collaboration with Re-Moove, people with disabilities will be provided with on-site assistance, helping them access the event location and take part in the concert. Support and chaperone services, from the car park to the event location, and use of Subpac are subject to booking using the following contact details:

isuoniaccessibili@re-moove.it   |    Tel +39 0464 – 076840    |    WhatsApp +39 351 7181793

Le persone con disabilità possono trovare assistenza in loco per alcuni dei concerti del Festival.

In questa edizione 2024 sono previsti quattro appuntamenti accessibili a persone in carrozzina e con disabilità sensoriale:

• People with disabilities will be provided with on-site assistance for some of the concerts:

  • 13 September, Villa Welsperg | Lana Kos, Raffaele Abete, I Solisti di Verona
  • 17 September, Malga Brenta Bassa | Raphael Gualazzi
  • 21 September, Sagron Mis | Renaud Garcia-Fons Trio
  • 25 September, Rifugio Fuciade | Paolo Conte Legacy

Certainly, but to allow the artists to express themselves in the best possible conditions and for the entire public to listen to the concert in the right atmosphere, we kindly ask you not to sit with your four-legged friend close to the delimited area for the artistic performance. You can ask the Staff on site for detailed information.

We suggest meeting points from which to start CarPooling, encouraging a conscious use of our cars as well.

Sharing is one of the values that have accompanied the genesis of the festival. Even the journey to altitude can turn into a moment of sharing everything that belongs to us: stories, tales, paths and experiences.

To discover the meeting points and ideal times for some of the concerts of the I Suoni delle Dolomiti festival, click here!

If you’ve read this far, you must be interested ?. If you’d like to know more, you can write to us at any time on the festival facebook and  instagram or drop us an email at eventicultura@trentinomarketing.org. We’ll always be glad to help!

To pique your curiosity further – and help you plan your next trip – keep browsing our website for more about the beauty and natural charm that Trentino and its mountains have in store for you.