Accademia di Santa Sofia Teatro Comunale Benevento Raphael Gualazzi

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TEATRO COMUNALE “V.E MANUELE” of Benevento
– Sunday, May 31, 2026 – 8:00 PM
RAPHAEL GUALAZZI DREAMS TOUR
RAPHAEL GUALAZZI piano and vocals
ANDERS ULRICH double bass
GIANLUCA NANNI drums
STEFANO NANNI orchestra conductor and arrangements
Jazz Orchestra of the Conservatory “Nicola Sala” of Benevento
Coordinator Ferruccio Corsi
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“There is a need for art to not die from reality” speaker Nazzareno Orlando

An extraordinary meeting between the overwhelming energy of author jazz and the fresh interpretation of great ensemble music.
The splendid setting of the Teatro Comunale “V. Emanuele” of Benevento is preparing to host the concert of Raphael Gualazzi, who on this occasion will be accompanied by the rhythm of his musicians and the Jazz Orchestra of the Conservatory "Nicola Sala" of Benevento, coordinated by Ferruccio Corsi.
The arrangements, handled by Stefano Nanni, who is also the orchestra conductor, will amplify the chiaroscuro of his music, offering the audience a unique and symphonic version of his greatest hits.
The event represents another significant moment in the beautiful and important Artistic Season of the Accademia di Santa Sofia of Benevento.
Gualazzi, with his skill, can blend jazz, blues, and authorial songwriting with his instrument and voice.
Unlike his classic pieces more tied to swing or the original blues, "Dreams" is overwhelming music, with a funk-urban rhythm and acid-jazz nuances.
“DREAMS TOUR” is an invitation to listen again to that inner strength that speaks to you and urges you to continue dreaming and moving, almost a “wake-up” after the dark periods of the pandemic lockdowns.
Beyond the event's chronicle, this concert prompts me to personal reflections in the face of such talent, often reduced to emphasizing its classical piano background, an aspect that sounds to me like a diminishment of his personal merit.
Without taking anything away from the fundamental role of teachers and the technical solidity that classical study can offer, I believe it is important to distinguish between the formal path and the true engine behind the development of a jazz artist.
It is often thought that the academic path is the main key to becoming a respected jazz musician, but this is only part of the story.
Many great professionals have sometimes chosen not to follow an academic path specifically to avoid conditioning that could limit the natural and spontaneous development of their artistic voice. Of course, I do not speak in general, but of extraordinary talents.
As a classical piano teacher (concert level), I feel the need to emphasize a fundamental distinction that I notice in jazz musicians (having also had some as students): study does not bring out a true jazz musician's soul but simply offers a few more possibilities. Generally, if one is a musician, they simply are.
Jazz music is an autonomous universe where personality and individual expressiveness play a central role and develop independently of traditional schools. From my experience, or from my age that has crossed more generations in music, with familiar examples even in this field, I firmly believe that the authentic path is the opposite: one first becomes something, and then adds a theoretical and technical awareness to what they already do.
“Self-taught” jazz musicians – or simply self-taught in spirit – are those who know what they want and consciously choose what to add to their journey to improve. True growth for them happens in direct confrontation with the history of music and its giants.
There is often a tendency to categorize the talent of Raphael Gualazzi by emphasizing almost exclusively his classical background. In my opinion, this risks overshadowing his main merit: that jazz vitality and personal spark that go far beyond mere academic rigor. His talent comes from within and expresses itself with complete freedom, without being chained to a traditional school track or conditioning that could limit the natural and spontaneous development of one’s artistic voice.
This is my experience and artistic sensitivity, which does not intend to diminish other paths but simply to offer a reflection on the relationship between technique and expressive freedom in jazz.
Salvatore Orlando
Artistic Consultant of the Accademia di Santa Sofia for
“PONTI SONORI”
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Accademia di Santa Sofia - Vittorio Iollo: General Coordinator
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“PONTI SONORI” - Accademia di Santa Sofia:
Filippo Zigante: Artistic Direction
Marcella Parziale: Artistic Direction
Salvatore Orlando: Artistic Consultant

ACCADEMIA DI SANTA SOFIA ORGANIGRAM:
https://www.accademiadisantasofia.it/organigramma/
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“Ponti Sonori” Dates
Benevento May 7, 2026 Auditorium Sant’Agostino
Chamber Orchestra ACCADEMIA DI SANTA SOFIA Antonio VIVALDI: The Four Seasons Violin LINDA HEDLUND
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May 18, 2026 MONTENEGRO: National Theatre
Tribute to Nino Rota and Ennio Morricone Orchestra Accademia Santa Sofia
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July 18-19, 2026 FINLAND-Helsinki: Emasalo Music Festival
String trio with piano - Linda Hedlund violin. Giuliano De Angelis cello, Risto-Matti Marin piano
Music by F. Mendelssohn and A. Piazzolla
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September 12, 2026 ITALY- Benevento: Auditorium Sant’Agostino
Chamber Orchestra Accademia di Santa Sofia - Dean Anderson violin, Myroslava Khomik violin
Music by J.S. Bach, A. Piazzolla
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September 20, 2026 ITALY- Benevento: Auditorium San Vittorino
String trio with piano – Laszlo Stacho piano, Marton Sarreti violin, Aron Ratray cello
Music by F.J. Haydn, L.V. Beethoven
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October 4, 2026 POLAND-Trzebnica: Abbey
Stabat Mater by G.B. Pergolesi, Santa Sofia Orchestra Dominika Zamara soprano, Marcella Parziale mezzo-soprano
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February 2, 2027 U.S.A.- Los Angeles: La Sierra University
String trio with piano – Dean Anderson violin, Myroslava Khomik violin, Giuliano De Angelis cello
Music by E. Dohnányi, and F.S. Akimenko
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February 3, 2027 U.S.A.- Los Angeles: La Sierra University
La Sierra University Orchestra, Francesco Nicolosi piano
Music by G. Paisiello and F. J. Haydn
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Data to be defined - May 2027 - ROMANIA-Cluj-Napoca: Chamber Music Festival
Stabat Mater by G.B. Pergolesi, Santa Sofia Orchestra soprano to be defined, Marcella Parziale mezzo-soprano
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Data to be defined - May 2027 - HUNGARY-Budapest: Franz Liszt Academy of Music
Young Talents: Christian De Nicolais (2007) piano
Music by F. Liszt: 12 Studies of Transcendental Execution
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Data to be defined - May 2027 - HUNGARY-Budapest: Franz Liszt Academy of Music
Young Talents: Giovanni Mascia piano (2003)
Music by: M. Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition, L.V. Beethoven: The Battle of Wellington op. 91 (piano version by Beethoven), F. Liszt: Totentanz, paraphrase on Dies irae
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