This Week in Classical Music: March 30, 2026. Bologna, Ferrara (and Modena). Historically, Bologna, with its numerous churches and a very old university, was one of the most musical cities in Italy. It had a fine violin school – makers, players, and composers (Corelli, Torelli and Vitali were part of it). Starting in the early 17th century, numerous literary and artistic Academies were established, some, like Accademia dei Floridi, dedicated to music (Monteverdi and Merula were members). In 1660, the Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna was founded, with academicians divided into orders: the composers, instrumentalists, and singers (Mozart, whila in Italy, submitted a composition for examination there). The Academy continued into the 19th and 20th centuries, presenting important concerts and composers.
As early as the 15th and 16th centuries, Ferrara (and after 1598, Modena, where the d’Este court relocated when the pope took over their seat of power) was one of the most important musical centers in Italy. We’ve written about Ferrara’s Concerto delle donne, and will return to the musical tradition in that city in a later post (Modena deserves a separate entry).
Bologna, Ferrara, Modena, 2026
This Week in Classical Music: March 30, 2026. Bologna, Ferrara (and Modena). Historically, Bologna, with its numerous churches and a very old university, was one of the most
musical cities in Italy. It had a fine violin school – makers, players, and composers (Corelli, Torelli and Vitali were part of it). Starting in the early 17th century, numerous literary and artistic Academies were established, some, like Accademia dei Floridi, dedicated to music (Monteverdi and Merula were members). In 1660, the Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna was founded, with academicians divided into orders: the composers, instrumentalists, and singers (Mozart, whila in Italy, submitted a composition for examination there). The Academy continued into the 19th and 20th centuries, presenting important concerts and composers.
As early as the 15th and 16th centuries, Ferrara (and after 1598, Modena, where the d’Este court relocated when the pope took over their seat of power) was one of the most important musical centers in Italy. We’ve written about Ferrara’s Concerto delle donne, and will return to the musical tradition in that city in a later post (Modena deserves a separate entry).