#novecento - music from another millennium

From 3 October to 5 December 2026, the International Museum and Library of Music of Bologna hosts the thirteenth edition of #novecento musiche da un altro millennio, a series devoted to twentieth-century music through musical storytelling, talks and concerts.

Marking the 20th anniversary of Bologna’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Music, writers, scholars and musicians explore the leading figures, musical languages and masterpieces of the twentieth century, combining storytelling with live music.

The programme is divided into three main strands: Good Vibrations, exploring the relationship between literature and popular music; ultimamusica, focusing on contemporary musical languages; and Jazz Insight, a series of musical narratives about the history of jazz and African-American music led by pianist Emiliano Pintori.

Programme:

• Saturday 3 October 2026, 5:30 pm
  Good Vibrations: Dylan 65
  Narrated by Emiliano Visconti. Live: The False Prophet.
• Sunday 11 October 2026, 11:00 am, 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm
  QUEEN The Last Tour - Artist Talk
  The Last Shot: the protagonists of the exhibition talk about QUEEN The Last Tour.
  Guided tours with Torleif Svensson, Pascal Casadei Van Ramsdonk and Enrico Tabellini.
• Wednesday 14 October 2026, 6:00 pm
  Jazz Insight preview - BJF special: Black and Tan Fantasy
  Jacques Prévert - Thelonious Monk.
  With Massimo Russino, narrator, adaptation and direction, and Andrea Pozza, piano.
• Saturday 17 October 2026, 5:30 pm
  ultimamusica: Listen and repeat
  A journey through American minimalism marking the 90th anniversary of Steve Reich (1936).
  Musical storytelling by In.Nova Fert, with Marco Bonato, clarinet, and Marco Pedrazzi, narration and piano.
• Wednesday 21 October 2026, 6:00 pm
  Jazz Insight preview - BJF special: The Birth of a Masterpiece
  How John Coltrane created A Love Supreme.
  Talk with Stefano Zenni.
• Saturday 24 October 2026, 5:30 pm
  Good Vibrations: Nick Cave, Re inchiostro
  Narrated by Emanuele Trevi. Live: Earthset.
• Wednesday 28 October 2026, 6:00 pm
  Jazz Insight: Miles&Trane
  Dedicated to Miles Davis (1926-1991) and John Coltrane (1926-1967).
  With Emiliano Pintori, narration and piano. Special guests: Marco Ferri, tenor saxophone; Cesare Mecca, trumpet; Paolo Benedettini, double bass; Adam Pache, drums.
• Saturday 31 October 2026, 5:30 pm
  ultimamusica: Concerto con delitto
  A murder mystery in the world of contemporary music, dedicated to Agatha Christie (1890-1976).
  Musical storytelling by In.Nova Fert, with Giacomo Tamburini, scriptwriter and actor; Alice Lombardi, soprano; Marco Pedrazzi and Diego Tripodi, piano.
• Wednesday 4 November 2026, 6:00 pm
  Jazz Insight: Mother Of The Blues
  Dedicated to Ma Rainey (1886-1939) and the queens of the blues.
  With Emiliano Pintori, narration and piano. Special guest: Gloria Turrini, vocals.
• Saturday 7 November 2026, 5:30 pm
  Good Vibrations: Rosa Balistreri, una voce in rivolta
  Narrated by Lorenza Ghinelli. Live: Cenere.
• Wednesday 11 November 2026, 6:00 pm
  Jazz Insight: High Times, Hard Times
  Dedicated to Anita O’Day (1919-2006).
  With Emiliano Pintori, narration and piano. Special guest: Ada Flocco, vocals.
• Saturday 14 November 2026, 5:30 pm
  ultimamusica: Japanese Garden
  Between light, silence and sound: Toru Takemitsu’s (1930-1996) journey between two musical worlds.
  Musical storytelling by Ensemble In.Nova Fert with Manuel Chiappin, flute; Marco Bonato, clarinet; Michela Marchiana, viola; Cristina Centa, harp; Tommaso Sassatelli, vibraphone; Marco Pedrazzi and Diego Tripodi, narration and piano.
• Wednesday 18 November 2026, 6:00 pm
  Jazz Insight: African Piano
  Dedicated to Randy Weston (1926-2018) and Abdullah Ibrahim (1934-2026).
  With Emiliano Pintori, narration and piano. Special guests: Filippo Cassanelli, double bass, and Marco Frattini, drums.
• Saturday 21 November 2026, 5:30 pm
  Good Vibrations: Romagna in musica
  Narrated by Cristiano Cavina. Live: Nicolò Quercia and Carlotta Marchesini.
• Wednesday 25 November 2026, 6:00 pm
  Jazz Insight: Saxophone Colossus
  Dedicated to Sonny Rollins (1930-2026).
  With Emiliano Pintori, narration and piano. Special guests: Carlo Atti, tenor saxophone; Stefano Senni, double bass; Andrea Grillini, drums.
• Saturday 5 December 2026, 5:30 pm
  ultimamusica: C'era una volta un quartetto di legno
  Fairy tales in contemporary music, from Carlo Collodi (1826-1890) to Hans Werner Henze (1926-2012).
  Musical storytelling by In.Nova Fert with Giacomo Tamburini, script and narration; Rebecca Roda, oboe; Marco Bonato, clarinet; Maria Chiara Bignozzi, bassoon; Diego Tripodi, piano.

The series is produced in partnership with In.Nova Fert APS and in collaboration with A Piece of His Own, Rapsodia Associazione Culturale and Bologna Jazz Festival.