The Italian Organ of the Nineteenth Century
26/09/2026 and 03/10/2026
The 19th-Century Italian Organ: Orchestral Sounds at the Keyboard; an event promoted by the Parish of Romano Canavese in collaboration with the Associazione Organistica Del Canavese (AODC)—will take place at the Parish Church of Saints Peter and Solutore in Romano Canavese. It will showcase the magnificent 1862–63 Camillo Guglielmo Bianchi organ, an instrument that has been the focus of numerous musical initiatives in recent years following a restoration that returned it to its original splendor.
Two events are scheduled:
– Maestro Ferruccio Bartoletti will open the series on Saturday, September 26 (at 9:00 PM)
– Maestro Walter Gatti will perform at the closing concert on Saturday, October 3 (at 9:00 PM).
Both concerts will highlight the distinctive tonal characteristics of this 19th-century instrument—perfect for the repertoire of that era and beyond. Works by Italian composers such as Quirici, Padre Davide da Bergamo, and Puccini will be performed alongside pieces by French, German, and Austrian composers, exploring a rich, evocative sonic palette and offering opportunities for interesting comparisons.
📍LOCATION: Chiesa parrocchiale dei Santi Pietro e Solutore di Romano Canavese
🕔 APPOINTMENTS HOUR:
– 26/09/2026: 21:00
– 03/10/2026: 21:00
🎟️ TICKETS: Admission to the two events will be by voluntary donation. All proceeds will go to the fund for the renovation and restoration of the parish church roofs.
A brief look at the artists:
FERRUCCIO BARTOLETTI:
An internationally renowned concert artist, he has performed over 900 recitals. He graduated with top honors in Organ and Organ Composition from the “Cesare Pollini” Conservatory in Padua and subsequently pursued advanced studies in Denmark with Knud Vad and in France with René Saorgin. In addition to performing in Italy, he regularly appears in major concert series at cathedrals and concert halls across Europe—including Paris, Hamburg, Madrid, Munich, Lausanne, Linz, Innsbruck, Dresden, Bratislava, Kyiv, Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, and Amsterdam—as well as in the Middle East.
As an orchestral soloist, he has performed at the Philharmonie im Gasteig in Munich and the Neues Gewandhaus in Leipzig; at the latter venue, he recorded Saint-Saëns’ Third Symphony for Leipzig Radio under the baton of Fabio Luisi. He also performed Poulenc’s Organ Concerto with the Turin Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Bruno Aprea. He has conducted masterclasses on Baroque organ literature in Altenfelden (Austria), as well as on Baroque and German Romantic organ literature and improvisation at the European Organ Academy in Castel Coldrano (Bolzano). He has taught at the music conservatories of Como, Latina, La Spezia, and Trieste. In 2018, he performed the complete organ works of J.S. Bach at the Church of the Sacred Heart in La Spezia. He currently serves as the organist at Massa Cathedral and as an organ professor at the Diocesan Institute of Sacred Music.
WALTER GATTI:
He holds academic diplomas specializing in Organ and Organ Composition, Harpsichord, and Choral Music and Conducting, having studied under Andrea Coen, Francesca Lanfranco, Massimo Nosetti, Sergio Pasteris, Dario Tabbia, and Paolo Tonini Bossi at the “Antonio Vivaldi” Conservatory in Alessandria and the “Giuseppe Verdi” Conservatory in Turin. He pursued advanced organ studies with Letizia Romiti, Reinhard Jaud, Enzo Corti, Christopher Kent, Jean-Claude Zehnder, and René Saorgin. He has also received awards and recognition for his work in organ performance, harpsichord, and organ composition.
Since 1988, he has maintained a regular concert schedule across Europe, performing both as a soloist and as an accompanist for choirs, soloists, and orchestras. He is the principal organist at the Waldensian Church (Tempio Valdese) in Torre Pellice and, as of February 2026, holds the title of *Titulaire honoraire* for the newly restored organ at the *Collégiale* in Briançon, France. He has collaborated with RAI, the Teatro Regio in Turin, and the University of Bamberg. He previously held the teaching position for “Theory, Rhythm, and Musical Perception” at the “Ghedini” Conservatory in Cuneo.
He teaches Organ, Composition, Music Reading, Choir, and Orchestra at the “Arcangelo Corelli” Institute in Pinerolo, the Inter-municipal School of Luserna San Giovanni, the Waldensian High School (*Liceo Valdese*) in Torre Pellice, and the “Suzuki Music Talent Center” in Rivoli. He conducts the Waldensian Choir (*Coro Valdese*) of Turin, the “Raffaella Azzario” Orchestra, and the “Armilla” female choir of the “Arcangelo Corelli” Institute in Pinerolo. Through the “Arcangelo Corelli” Music Institute in Pinerolo, he collaborates with the Briançon Conservatory; this partnership launched a cross-border orchestra project in 2021 that evolved in 2024 into the “Orchestre symphonique franco-italien de Pinerolo et Briançon,” an ensemble he co-directs alongside Vincent Mathieu.