with
Aniraco Orchestra (Japan)
Ocabanda (USA)
Duo Aurachorda (Germany), with Marco Muzatti (percussions)

One of the most iconic moments of the Festival, when the ocarina—born in the heart of Budrio—embraces the entire world. From the shores of Japan, the United States, and Germany, we witness how this small clay instrument has ventured into the unknown, meeting and harmoniously blending with vastly different musical cultures, enriching itself with new shades and languages.

ANIRACO Ocarina Orchestra (JApan)

From the Land of the Rising Sun, we welcome the ANIRACO Ocarina Orchestra, founded in 2014 with the mission of revealing the immense expressive potential of the ocarina. Under the expert guidance of maestros Tatsuo Kobayashi and Riko Kobayashi, the ensemble—currently made up of 30 members, with plans to grow to a full 50—focuses constantly on synchronization and versatility. Their repertoire spans a wide range of genres, demonstrating how the ocarina, in an orchestral setting, can achieve rare levels of elegance and precision.

Ocabanda (USA)

From the United States comes the energy of Ocabanda, America’s first ocarina septet. Founded in 2017 and directly inspired by the historic groups of Budrio, the ensemble has carried Italian tradition across the Atlantic, blending it with modern influences. Their repertoire is a journey through film scores, video game music, folk melodies, and classical arrangements. Tonight’s performance will be especially emotional: after nearly a decade of music and friendship, Ocabanda has chosen the stage in Budrio for their farewell concert, completing an artistic circle that began rooted in our tradition.

Duo Aurachorda (Germany)

Representing Europe, we welcome the Duo Aurachorda, consisting of Vera Unfried and Yvonne Zehner, professors at the University of Passau. Their project combines winds and strings, creating a refined dialogue between the ocarina and string instruments. With a strong academic and performance background, Duo Aurachorda brings to the stage a sophisticated and evocative sonic exploration, also documented in their eponymous 2016 CD, showcasing the ocarina in prestigious chamber music settings.

Curated by Succede Solo a Bologna

The Consortium Theatre of Budrio was founded in 1672 at the initiative of Paolo Sgargi, who had it built next to his home to respond to the strong passion of Budrio’s young people for theatre. Privately owned until 1802, it was later purchased by the Consorzio della Partecipanza of Budrio (from which the name “Consorziale” derives), which renovated it by adding three tiers of boxes supported by Doric columns, along with dressing rooms. The stage hosted comedies, tragedies, vocal and musical academies, and a wide variety of performances, including the famous Carnival balls.

After overcoming the challenges of World War I and undergoing a grand reconstruction in the 1920s, the theatre came under municipal management, becoming a prestigious stage for world-renowned icons such as Luciano Pavarotti, Carla Fracci, and Giorgio Gaber.

Today, with prose, operetta, dialect theatre, and concerts, the Consorziale continues to shape Budrio’s cultural life, blending historical charm with a high-quality contemporary program. Each season features a rich variety of events, including theatre productions, concerts, operettas, comedy, performances for children, and art exhibitions in the foyer.

Workshop with
the Austrian maker Kurt Posch

The ocarina is an instrument as simple as it is complex, carrying a timeless charm. In this exclusive workshop, Austrian master Kurt Posch will share his invaluable experience as a self-taught maker, dedicated to crafting concert-quality instruments with pure sound and flawless tuning.

From classic Budrio-style ocarinas to more experimental models, each of Posch’s creations seeks the perfect balance between body and breath. All the instruments of the Tonpfiff quintet, which you’ll encounter among the Buskers, are his work—a testament to his craftsmanship that meets every musical need. During the session, Kurt will explain the technical challenges of ocarina making, from models with a high G (H) to experiments with double ocarinas and specialized mouthpieces for piccolo ocarinas.

A magical moment to discover the secrets of the perfect “mood” and to engage with a craftsman whose mission is the sharing of knowledge.

The workshop will last approximately one hour and will be interpreted in both English and Italian.

with GOB and Orchestra Giovanile BenTiVoglio

The annual magical meeting between history and tomorrow. The Gruppo Ocarinistico Budriese, ambassador of ocarina tradition in the world, preserves and projects Donati’s legacy into the future through a dialogue with the excellence of the BenTIVoglio Youth Orchestra. A special concert event where the terracotta myth meets the symphonic talent of the new generations.

GOB – Gruppo Ocarinistico Budriese

The 10‑hole ocarina was invented in Budrio in 1853 by a young man named Giuseppe Donati. After building five ocarinas of different sizes, the first ensemble was formed in 1863, which later became a septet and performed for years with great success on the most prestigious European stages, presenting original pieces and arrangements of famous opera arias: the Gruppo Ocarinistico Budriese.

The current GOB has carried forward the musical heritage of the ocarina groups that have emerged in Budrio over time, with particular reference to those of the 1920s and 1930s led by Alfredo Barattoni. To the distinctive pastoral sound typical of an ocarina ensemble has been added, in recent years, that of more classical instruments in a repertoire for one or two ocarinas (G.O.B. Soloists). In their concerts, the G.O.B. Soloists perform pieces in which the ocarina is accompanied by piano, string quartet, or a baroque orchestra.

Active for many years, the GOB has performed over 1,000 concerts in Italy and abroad and recorded numerous CDs and DVDs. Their international engagements include tours in Australia, Cuba, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, the United States, South Korea, China (including a concert at the prestigious National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing), Japan, and many European countries. Recently, their concerts have been broadcast on Radio3 (Italy), RSI (Swiss Italian Radio), and WDR (Germany), and they have appeared at major events such as the Ravello Festival and the Sferisterio in Macerata for Musicultura.

BenTIVoglio Youth Orchestra

The Youth Symphony Orchestra was born from the long experience of the “Il Temporale” Music School and the International Chamber Music Festival at Bentivoglio Castle. The orchestra training workshop, conducted by director Emiliano Bernagozzi, involves students of the “Il Temporale” music school and is open to boys and girls engaged in musical studies.

Today, the Youth Orchestra is made up of around 40 members aged 13 and over and was the winner of the International “Rossini” Competition in the city of Pesaro in 2016. The orchestra has already performed on tour in the Czech Republic and in Irpinia, concluding with a performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria at the Royal Palace of Caserta.

with Asaka Shirai and Luca Panetti

A sonic journey across centuries and continents: the workshop dedicated to the zither (chorded psaltery) reveals the secrets of an instrument with a fascinating history. Originating in Bavaria and spreading through Europe at the end of the 19th century, the zither found new life thanks to French Benedictine monks in the 1970s, eventually reaching Japan, where it gained extraordinary popularity thanks to the country’s rich musical culture.

In this session, participants will explore the construction methods and mechanical workings of the instrument. Under the guidance of Luca Panetti, an expert builder of organs and cetre since 1998, and with technical support from renowned performer Asaka Shirai, techniques of tuning and maintenance will be studied in depth.But it’s not just theory: the workshop will include presentations of various repertoires and plenty of hands-on experimentation with different models. Participants will have the chance to play, sing, and have fun together, discovering the energy of an instrument that, like the ocarina, unites distant traditions in a joyful atmosphere of shared music-making.

Curated by Succede Solo a Bologna

The “Domenico Inzaghi” Civic Art Gallery in Budrio houses an extraordinary artistic treasure, featuring masterpieces by renowned artists such as Vitale da Bologna, Dosso Dossi, Lavinia Fontana, and Giuseppe Maria Crespi. The heart of this collection dates back to 1824, thanks to the visionary donation of Captain Domenico Inzaghi, who left the community a vast selection of Emilian paintings from the 14th to the 19th century, enriched by a valuable collection of drawings and prints, including the famous works of Dürer.

What gives this collection even greater significance is its deep connection to the local territory, highlighted by its location in the prestigious Palazzo della Partecipanza of Budrio. This building is not just a museum space but a living symbol of a centuries-old institution rooted in the city’s agrarian and social identity. In this shared space, where art coexists with the historic Teatro Consorziale, the gallery stands as an emblem of Budrio’s cultural life, born from private generosity and preserved through collective pride.

The tour is offered in two time slots: 10:00 AM and 11:30 AM.

With the presentation of the new album Økarine, from Økapi

The Festival invites the entire community to a special Aperiocarina: a moment of pure conviviality designed to break down the barriers between stage and audience. It will be the ideal opportunity to meet the merchants and the Oca Buskers of this edition up close, chatting in complete informality with ocarina players who have come to Budrio from all over the world. Between one toast and another, it will be possible to discover stories and secrets of this unique instrument, sharing ideas with the protagonists who animate the Festival streets in a welcoming and lively atmosphere.

The evening will then continue with an event of magnetic charm in the Sala Ottagonale, where listening will become the absolute protagonist thanks to the performance by Økapi. The artist will present live his new album Økarine, the sound score composed for the puppet theatre show “Isabella ambasciatrice di armonia”: a research work that reinterprets the sound of the ocarina through electronic visions.

It will be an evocative journey between ancient roots and experimentation, capable of transforming tradition into a modern and enveloping sonic narrative, perfect for concluding this experience of artistic sharing.

Raised on the warmth of vinyl and the energy of house music, Alessio has forged a dynamic sonic identity fueled by a constant search for fresh expression. This vision takes shape through his label, Trend Records, where he has championed both emerging talent and global icons such as Terry Farley, Paul Johnson, and Ricky Montanari.

His international career has taken him to the booths of influential clubs in Berlin, London, Ibiza, and Zurich. The caliber of his work is reflected in the heavy-hitting support he receives from industry titans like Kerri Chandler, Honey Dijon, and DJ Sneak.

Since 2019, Alessio has expanded his artistry into the performance realm with a live set featuring original edits and reinterpretations of his own catalog. A versatile artist in steady evolution, he remains dedicated to a sophisticated aesthetic that consistently surprises the dancefloor.

Music by Tiziano Popoli
Text by Renato Billi
Directed by Oderso Rubini

with

La Toscanini NEXT Orchestra
Tiziano Popoli director
Ocarina Quintet from the Conservatory of Bologna
Emiliano Bernagozzi, Riccardo Biagetti, Leonardo Carbone,
Alberto Ciarrocca, Elisa Zilioli
and the Soloists Lorenzo Speca, Tang Jiusi, Gexing Wang, Yi Zeyu,
Lorenzo Sarinelli, Antonio Tavoni

and Giuseppe Losacco, actor
Masks by Margherita Citran
Costumes by Eva Aremar

L’Inganno is a satirical drama freely inspired by El Güegüense, the first literary work of post-Columbian Nicaragua. It is considered one of the most distinctive expressions of the colonial era in Latin America and a folkloric masterpiece typical of Nicaragua. In 2005, it was inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

At the heart of L’Inganno lies the archetype of creative resistance: the protagonist challenges colonial authority not with force, but with cunning, irony, and double meanings, feigning submission that is, in reality, a mockery. This dynamic recalls the feats of the divine twins of the Popol Vuh, who could defeat the lords of the underworld through ingenuity and magic, elevating intelligence as a tool of liberation.

Today, this work emerges as a powerful symbol of cultural empowerment against global homogenization. It teaches us that wit and mastery of language are true instruments of social survival, capable of reclaiming a mixed identity that refuses to bow to oppressive systems. It embodies the same spirit that animated the theatre of Dario Fo: just as the Nobel-winning Italian jester used grammelot and satire to ridicule power, the Güegüense uses its mixed dialect to subvert the logic of the oppressor. More than a mere fragment of folklore, the work is a practical manual of nonviolent resistance: a strikingly contemporary testament to how ordinary people can bridge the gap between their everyday reality and the power imposed from above, turning words into a shield and laughter into an act of rebellion. This version of the Güegüense, suspended between the lyrical song of authority and the popular voice of the streets, represents the essence of modern resistance: a deception that becomes art in order to survive.

An explosion of joy and rhythm! The Ocarina Festival hosts an extraordinary encounter between the electrifying Mirko Casadei’s POPular Folk Orchestra and the magical sound of ocarina players, for an evening that rewrites the rules of tradition. It is a vibrant crossover where Romagna folk music is renewed through the versatility of this ancient wind instrument, capable of giving a fresh and unexpected sound to the songs we all know and love.

As it moves toward its historic centenary milestone (1928–2028), the Orchestra carries with it an immense legacy: from recent successes in Osaka to performing for 90,000 people at the Misano MotoGP, and celebrating “Romagna Mia” on the Sanremo stage. On this special occasion, Mirko also celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of “Amico Sole,” reaffirming his remarkable ability to reinvent himself—an ability that has led to collaborations with major Italian and international artists.

In this blend of popular folk and the unique voice of the ocarina, the music of the Casadei family once again stands out as a symbol of celebration and belonging. The warm, earthy tone of this clay wind instrument adds a magical nuance to the Orchestra’s rhythms, proving that tradition is not a museum piece, but a living body that continues to dance and inspire town squares around the world.