On February 20th, 2026, the Pianissimo Festival makes its Roman debut with a concert set inside the magnificent Church of Sant’Ignazio di Loyola. Conceived as a meeting point between music, architecture, and European intellectual heritage, the evening reflects the festival’s signature philosophy: placing exceptional young pianists in dialogue with historically resonant spaces.
Rooted in the belief that art is a unifying force, the Pianissimo Festival celebrates emerging virtuosos at pivotal moments in their careers. In Rome, faith, history, and visual grandeur form a luminous backdrop for a program shaped by clarity, balance, and inner freedom.
Pianissimo Festival: concept and vision
The Pianissimo Festival is dedicated to presenting classical music in museums, historic landmarks, and architecturally significant venues, where sound converses naturally with space and history. More than a concert series, it is a cultural bridge—intimate in scale yet international in ambition.
Following its Rome opening, the festival continues its global journey this spring with concerts in Brazil, including performances at the Copacabana Palace Theatre and Motiva Cultural Station, reinforcing its commitment to cross-cultural dialogue through music.
Davide Ranaldi and Konstantin Emelyanov
Italian pianist Davide Ranaldi brings intellectual depth and expressive precision to the Roman stage. His program opens with Johann Sebastian Bach’s Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor, BWV 903, followed by Joseph Haydn’s Piano Sonata in E-flat major, Hob. XVI:52. Ranaldi’s interpretations highlight the architectural clarity and spiritual intensity that define both composers, aligning seamlessly with the festival’s refined aesthetic.
Joining him is Konstantin Emelyanov, whose performance of Bach’s Overture in the French Style, BWV 831 underscores the intellectual rigor and formal elegance at the heart of the evening.
Emelyanov’s nuanced approach to Baroque structure and ornamentation embodies the Pianissimo Festival’s dedication to thoughtful artistry and contemporary resonance.
Courtesy of DAVIDE RANALDI
Photography by SLAVA NOVIKOV
