2-29 July
Rome, Basilica of Maxentius – Colosseum Archaeological Park
Clivo di Venere Felice
The classic Roman summer is even more “classic” this year: after 47 years, the summer season of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia returns to the Basilica of Maxentius for a month of musical events featuring international artists who, starting July 2, will make the notes of composers like Tchaikovsky, Verdi, Gershwin, Chopin, Mozart, Handel, and Vivaldi resonate under the Roman sky. But that’s not all: music composed by two-time Academy Award winner Alexandre Desplat for equally ‘classic’ films will also be performed, from Harry Potter to Little Women, up to the Wes Anderson’s Suite.
All concerts will begin at 9:00 PM – Tickets and subscription on sale starting April 16, 2026.
The program
The White Night
Tchaikovsky Gala
Thursday, July 2, 2026 – 9:00 PM
BASILICA OF MAXENTIUS
Orchestra
dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
conductor Manfred Honeck
piano Alexander Malofeev
Tchaikovsky
Piano Concerto No. 1
Symphony No. 5
The Four Seasons danced
Hip-Hop meets Vivaldi
Saturday, July 4, 2026 – 9:00 PM
BASILICA OF MAXENTIUS
Compagnie Käfig – Le Concert de la Loge
direction and choreography Mourad Merzouki
solo violin and musical direction Julien Chauvin
lighting design Cécile Trelluyer
Vivaldi
L’Olimpiade: Sinfonia RV 725
Spring RV 269
Cello Sonata in A minor, RV 43
Summer RV 315
Concerto in B minor for 4 violins, Op. 3 No. 10, RV 580
Autumn RV 293
Sinfonia in G major, RV 151 “alla Rustica”
Winter RV 297
L’Olimpiade: Sinfonia RV 725
The cinematic world
of Alexandre Desplat
Harry Potter and Oscar-winning music
Thursday, July 9, 2026 – 9:00 PM
BASILICA OF MAXENTIUS
Orchestra
dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
conductor Alexandre Desplat
Desplat
The Tree of Life
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Suite Royale (The Queen, The King’s Speech, Lost King)
Wes Anderson’s Suite (Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The French Dispatch)
The Shape of Water
Little Women
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The Imitation Game
Godzilla
Verdi Gala
Choruses, overtures, and dances from the most famous Verdi operas
Wednesday, July 15, 2026 – 9:00 PM
BASILICA OF MAXENTIUS
National Orchestra of Conservatories
Coro dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
conductor Diego Ceretta
Verdi
Aida: Overture
I lombardi alla prima crociata: “Gerusalem!” – “O Signore, dal tetto natio”
Macbeth: Incantation – Dances – “Patria oppressa!”
Nabucco: Overture – “Gli arredi festivi” – “Va, pensiero, sull’ali dorate”
I vespri siciliani: Overture
Aida: Gloria all’Egitto
Rhapsody in Blue
Harding feat. Bollani
Friday, July 17, 2026 – 9:00 PM
BASILICA OF MAXENTIUS
Orchestra
dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
conductor Daniel Harding
piano Stefano Bollani
Ravel Alborada del gracioso
Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue jazz band version composed for Paul Whiteman
Mussorgsky / Ravel Pictures at an Exhibition
Notturno Chopin
Mazurkas, waltzes, polonaises, ballades, and nocturnes
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 – 9:00 PM
BASILICA OF MAXENTIUS
pianist Martina Meola – “Jeune Chopin 2025” prize
Chopin
Waltz Op. 34 No. 1
Scherzo Op. 31 No. 2
Nocturne Op. 9 No. 1
Nocturne Op. 15 No. 1
Fantaisie Op. 49
Mazurkas Op. 30 No. 1 and 4
Ballade Op. 23 No. 1
Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Brillante Op. 22
Mozart Requiem
The last masterpiece
Friday, July 24, 2026 – 9:00 PM
BASILICA OF MAXENTIUS
Orchestra e Coro
dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
conductor Jérémie Rhorer
soprano Mei Gui Zhang – alto Anna Doris Capitelli
tenor Duke Kim – bass Guilhem Worm
Mozart
Ave Verum
Requiem K 626
concert without intermission
Music for the Crown
Handel and the great Baroque festivals on the Thames
Wednesday, July 29, 2026 – 9:00 PM
BASILICA OF MAXENTIUS
Concerto Köln
Handel Water Music Suite No. 2
Vivaldi Concerto in A major, RV 158
Handel Solomon: The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Handel Concerto Grosso in B major, Op. 3 No. 2
Vivaldi L’Olimpiade: Sinfonia RV 725
Handel Concerto Grosso in F major, Op. 6 No. 9
Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks
How to reach Massenzio
The Basilica of Maxentius is located inside the Colosseum Archaeological Park.
During the concerts, it can be accessed from the Clivo di Venere Felice, near the “Colosseo” stop of the Metro C along Via dei Fori Imperiali.
Metro: Lines B and C, Colosseo stop
Bus: nos. 51, 75, 81, 85, 87, 118
Tram: no. 3
Tickets and subscriptions
on sale starting Thursday, April 16, 2026, online and at the box office
| Ticket prices Sector I €60 Sector II €40 Sector III €30 |
Season passes Sector I €360 Sector II €240 Sector III €190 |
Ticket discounts
Santa Cecilia subscribers: 10% discount on 2 tickets
Under 26: 30% discount