On Wednesday 9 December 2026, at 8.00 pm, the Teatro Fraschini in Pavia hosts the traditional Concerto per la Città (Concert for the City). On the feast day of San Siro (Saint Syrus), the city’s patron saint, I Solisti di Pavia and Coro Maghini, conducted by Daniele Giorgi, perform George Frideric Handel’s Messiah with four solo voices. All proceeds from the evening will be donated to charity.

The event is promoted by Fondazione Monte di Lombardia in collaboration with Fondazione Teatro Fraschini, and brings together artistic excellence, civic participation and solidarity in a single evening. It is the way Pavia celebrates its patron saint through music, on a date that matters deeply to the people of Pavia.

At a glance

Event: Concerto per la Città – Handel’s Messiah

Date and time: Wednesday 9 December 2026, 8.00 pm

Venue: Teatro Fraschini, Corso Strada Nuova 136, 27100 Pavia

Performers: I Solisti di Pavia and Coro Maghini, conductor Daniele Giorgi

Soloists: Anna Veiteberg (soprano), Laila Salome Fischer (mezzo-soprano), Michele Angelini (tenor), Mauro Borgioni (bass)

Tickets: on sale online through the Teatro Fraschini box office

Charity: all proceeds from the evening will be donated to charity

When and where the Concerto per la Città 2026 takes place

The concert takes place on Wednesday 9 December 2026, starting at 8.00 pm, at the Teatro Fraschini, at Corso Strada Nuova 136, in the historic centre of Pavia, in Lombardy. The Fraschini is one of Lombardy’s historic theatres, named after the Pavia-born tenor Gaetano Fraschini, and in 2023 it celebrated its 250th anniversary, having opened in 1773.

San Siro: why 9 December is Pavia’s festival

San Siro is regarded as the first bishop of Pavia and is patron saint of both the city and the diocese. On 9 December Pavia celebrates his feast with a day that weaves together two sides: the religious one, with services in the Cathedral, where the saint’s relics are kept, and the civic one, which includes the presentation of the San Siro civic honours (benemerenze di San Siro), the highest distinction awarded by the city.

The tradition also includes San Siro sweets, which in these days fill the windows of Pavia’s pastry shops and bakeries decorated with the saint’s name in white icing, and the San Siro bread rolls handed out in the Cathedral. The Concerto per la Città brings this celebration into the theatre and offers locals and visitors an evening of music and togetherness.

The programme: Handel’s Messiah

The evening is devoted entirely to Handel’s Messiah, one of the great oratorios in the history of music. Composed in 1741 to an English-language libretto by Charles Jennens, assembled from texts of the Scriptures, Messiah was first performed in Dublin in 1742 and has since remained a landmark of the choral and orchestral repertoire, famous around the world also for its “Hallelujah” chorus.

Hearing it live at the Teatro Fraschini, with four soloists, a choir and I Solisti di Pavia, in the weeks before Christmas, is a chance to experience one of the best-loved masterpieces of the Baroque repertoire in a historic setting and on a date bound up with the identity of the city.

The performers of the Concerto per la Città

I Solisti di Pavia

The Fondazione I Solisti di Pavia was founded in 2001 and is the instrumental body of Fondazione Monte di Lombardia. Conceived by Andrea Astolfi and brought to life thanks to the talent of the cellist Enrico Dindo, it is a musical excellence of the local area that has taken its name on international tours, as far as halls such as the Salle Gaveau in Paris and the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, while keeping a strong bond with Pavia, where it presents festivals such as Cortili in Musica and Bach in the City.

Daniele Giorgi

Violinist and conductor, Daniele Giorgi is music director of the Orchestra Leonore and leads I Solisti di Pavia as concertmaster-conductor in many events of the Pavia season. At the Concerto per la Città he conducts Messiah.

Coro Maghini and the solo voices

The choir is Coro Maghini, the Coro Filarmonico di Torino “R. Maghini”, prepared by chorus master Claudio Chiavazza. The solo parts are sung by soprano Anna Veiteberg, mezzo-soprano Laila Salome Fischer, tenor Michele Angelini and bass Mauro Borgioni.

A concert that unites music and solidarity

The Concerto per la Città is a traditional 9 December appointment at the Teatro Fraschini: the theatre’s programme also lists the 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions. This year too, all proceeds from the evening will be donated to charity, confirming the spirit of care for the community and sense of belonging that the concert seeks to express. Buying a ticket therefore means taking part in an evening of great music and, at the same time, supporting a charitable initiative.

Tickets and useful information

Tickets can be bought online through the Teatro Fraschini box office, available on Vivaticket at https://teatrofraschini.vivaticket.it/it/event/il-9-dicembre/289049. Prices, seating areas and availability are shown directly on the booking page.

For information, you can contact Fondazione Teatro Fraschini on +39 0382 3711 or by email at info@teatrofraschini.org. The programme, performers and any changes can be checked on the theatre’s official website, teatrofraschini.it.

Getting there and what to do on San Siro’s day

To make the most of the day, 9 December is a good opportunity to discover Pavia: the Cathedral, where San Siro rests (subject to the services taking place), the Covered Bridge over the Ticino, the Visconti Castle and the Basilica of San Michele Maggiore are all sights in the historic centre that lend themselves to a visit before the evening at the Fraschini.

Frequently asked questions about the Concerto per la Città 2026

When does the Concerto per la Città 2026 take place in Pavia?

On Wednesday 9 December 2026, starting at 8.00 pm, on the day Pavia celebrates San Siro, the city’s patron saint.

Where is the concert held?

At the Teatro Fraschini in Pavia, at Corso Strada Nuova 136, in the historic centre of the city.

What music is performed?

The programme is devoted entirely to Handel’s Messiah.

Who is performing?

I Solisti di Pavia and Coro Maghini, conducted by Daniele Giorgi, with soprano Anna Veiteberg, mezzo-soprano Laila Salome Fischer, tenor Michele Angelini and bass Mauro Borgioni. The chorus master is Claudio Chiavazza.

Who organises the Concerto per la Città?

The concert is promoted by Fondazione Monte di Lombardia in collaboration with Fondazione Teatro Fraschini. I Solisti di Pavia are the instrumental body of Fondazione Monte di Lombardia.

Is it a charity concert?

Yes, all proceeds from the evening will be donated to charity.

How do I buy tickets?

Online, through the Teatro Fraschini box office on Vivaticket. For information you can call +39 0382 3711 or write to info@teatrofraschini.org.

Why is the concert held on 9 December?

Because 9 December is the feast day of San Siro, first bishop and patron saint of Pavia, an occasion that is deeply felt by the city.

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