Unheard Sounds

From May 10th to June 25th, 2025 the thirteenth edition of **Unheard Sounds** comes to life, an international contemporary music festival organized by the **“Pietro Mascagni” State Conservatory of Music** in Livorno and curated by Maestro **Fabio De Sanctis De Benedictis**, holder of the Chair of Harmony Theory and Analysis, which has already seen two preview concerts (on February 27th, at the end of the Composition masterclass of Maestro **Mauro Lanza**, and on April 12th, with the Percussion Ensemble of the Conservatory as part of “Il Sabato del Mascagni”).

Born from an idea of **Stefano Agostini**, Unheard Sounds aims to bring the public and students closer to contemporary repertoire, opening a window on the languages and vocations of today’s music. The festival explores, on one hand, the most advanced computer and digital techniques and, on the other hand, the sound potentials of traditional instruments, also paying great attention to multimedia relations and the relationship between music and words. An offer that allows the city of Livorno to witness world premieres and to meet contemporary composers up close.

The festival will come alive in the coming weeks with **six new concerts** with free admission scheduled **from May 10th and June 25th** at the **“Cesare Chiti” auditorium** of the Conservatory.

Furthermore, thanks to the **Pro-Ben** project, funded by the **Ministry of University and Research** for the promotion of psychophysical well-being and prevention of distress among university and AFAM students, Unheard Sounds will continue in the autumn: **from September 17th to October 11th** four concerts will be held, preceded by conferences dedicated to the theme of performance tension.

The festival will conclude on **October 30th and 31st** with the concerts of the winners of the Calls issued by the “P. Mascagni” Conservatory.

The first event is scheduled on **Saturday, May 10th at 4:30 pm** at the “Cesare Chiti” auditorium with the concert “Infinite Lieder”, realized in collaboration with **PUCCINI IOCAL (Puccini International Opera Composition Course)** in Lucca.

Music by **Girolamo Deraco, Fabio De Sanctis De Benedictis, Alejandro Padilla, Eduardo Caballero and Alessandro J. Bianchi** will be performed.

Performers include:
– **Cristina Rosa**, soprano
– **Lorenzo Martinuzzi**, baritone
– **Alessandro J. Bianchi**, actor
– **Q-Sion Percussion: Eusebio Sánchez, Samuel Reyes, Celina Hernandez**

The direction is entrusted to **Alessandro J. Bianchi and Girolamo Deraco**.

The inaugural concert on May 10th is also funded within the Pro-Ben project and will have **free admission**.