Festival del Garda Aims to Grow as Italy’s Top Lake Music Event
The sixth edition of the Festival del Garda was unveiled in the council chamber of the municipality of Toscolano Maderno. Behind the officials’ table, also seated were Gloria Zanin and Susanna Huckstep, the two charming presenters of the summer tour across Garda. Standing next to them, in addition to Ermes Buffoli, provincial councilor of the Province of Brescia, and Fabio Cauzi, the local assessor, was Enrico Bianchini, the owner of Cantalago and the brain behind this event, which will take us in two months to twenty towns around Italy’s largest lake. A widespread presence across the territory, all united under the banner of singing and beautiful women.
Yes, because the Festival del Garda is nothing more than a refreshing cocktail to sip, or rather enjoy, comfortably seated by the lake or in a charming square. All this accompanied by good music performed by young talents seeking their moment in the spotlight.
Similarly, young women competing in the Miss Italia selections, dreaming of reaching the final in Salsomaggiore thanks to natural gifts. Against this background of competition, comedians alternated during the evenings will bring the right humor and a lighthearted vibe suitable for the Festival del Garda, a program of pure entertainment to watch with friends, perhaps savoring a cool gelato.
Built on a tested script and a well-oiled organizational machine, Bianchini’s event plan is being reinstated after eight months of contact with municipal administrations, intense negotiations with public entities, and agreements with entertainment professionals.
An extensive winter, far from being dormant, was instead very busy preparing a versatile event for all tastes and preferences. “Our first milestone was achieved: bringing all Garda towns together under the same project. Now, the goal is to transform the Festival from a local event into a national one,” Bianchini stated during the press conference (also attended by Renzo Policante, director of Apt 12).
Bianchini then showcased, with the aid of the internet (www.cantalago.it), the innovations of the third millennium edition. First and foremost, the presenters, notably two former Miss Italia: Susanna Huckstep, crowned in 1984, and Gloria Zanin, winner in 1992. The two hosts, who are notably tall, will alternate across the three Garda shores during the stops. Before their debut in Volta Mantovana, the only stop in Virgilian territory, a prestigious prelude will take place on Saturday, June 30, at the Vittoriale in Gardone Riviera. The opening gala will be hosted by Federica Moro, who previously starred at Cantalago in the last successful edition. Moro will also host the event on Tuesday, August 7, in Toscolano Maderno. In Sirmione, still in Lombardy, the debut of Antonella Elia is scheduled.
“This year, we have five more evenings scheduled than last season,” the patron proudly highlighted, who entrusted the final contest presentation to Adriana Volpe in Riva del Garda (Monday, August 27). As usual, Cantalago will host the social corner with the sale of a CD featuring the best musical productions of the Festival. The proceeds from sales (ten thousand lire per CD) will go to the Salomè project for the sponsorship of children in need in Ambodivona, Madagascar.
The Festival del Garda is sponsored by the Veneto and Lombardia Regions, the Autonomous Province of Trento, the Garda Community, and the tourism departments of the Province of Verona and Brescia. The essence of the event remains the singing contest, divided into two categories: interpreters and original songs.
The participating contestants, selected through a series of auditions held last month in Verona, Brescia, Mantova, Trento, and Desenzano, will perform covers of well-known songs. Only one contestant from the four will advance from each qualifying night.
A lengthy narrowing down process will culminate in selecting the finalists, who will compete for the “Lago d’oro”, a jewel crafted by the Zanetti brothers from Torri. For the original compositions section, the competition will be knockout style until the final two are chosen. The “Amici di Luciano Beretta” award for the best original song will also be presented.