by InTrieste
Italy’s President, Sergio Mattarella, is expected to attend a special concert in Pordenone on Sept. 20, marking the conclusion of the 27th edition of Pordenonelegge, one of the country’s leading literary festivals, as the city continues its preparations to serve as Italian Capital of Culture 2027.
The event, titled Concert for Italy, will take place at the Teatro Verdi and feature the Italian vocal trio Il Volo, known internationally for promoting Italy’s bel canto tradition. Organizers said the concert will also serve as a tribute to Pordenone’s upcoming role as the national cultural capital.
To accommodate larger audiences, the performance will be broadcast live on giant screens installed in four public squares across the city, transforming central Pordenone into an open-air venue.
Speaking at the event’s presentation on Thursday, Sergio Emidio Bini, Friuli Venezia Giulia’s regional councillor for productive activities and tourism, described the concert as one of the flagship initiatives supported by the regional government in the lead-up to 2027.
Bini said President Mattarella’s attendance gives the occasion significant institutional and symbolic importance while underscoring the growing international profile of Pordenonelegge, which has evolved into a major cultural event beyond the region’s borders.
Founded nearly three decades ago, Pordenonelegge has become one of Italy’s best-known literary festivals, drawing authors, readers and cultural figures from around the world. Regional officials said the festival’s themes of freedom, dialogue and peace carry particular relevance amid ongoing international conflicts and political tensions.
The Friuli Venezia Giulia regional government, together with PromoTurismoFVG and the Pordenonelegge Foundation, has continued to invest in cultural and sporting events as part of a broader strategy to promote tourism and economic development across the region.
In a message to the Pordenonelegge Foundation, regional vice governor and culture councillor Mario Anzil described the Concert for Italy as an important milestone on the road to Pordenone 2027. He noted that the event follows last year’s Concert for Europe, which symbolically linked the European Capital of Culture celebrations in Nova Gorica–Gorizia 2025 with Pordenone’s upcoming designation.
Anzil also praised the selection of Il Volo, saying the trio has helped bring Italy’s operatic tradition to international audiences while appealing to younger generations. He reaffirmed the region’s support for the festival and its organizers, calling the initiative an example of how Pordenone is already embracing its future role as Italy’s Capital of Culture well ahead of 2027.
