One of the aspects that has always characterized Ceresio Estate is offering something more than just a simple concert event. Over the years, it has guided its loyal audience and tourists from north of the Alps and nearby Lombardy to the most picturesque places in the Lugano area.
In addition to the numerous scenic landscapes overlooking Lake Lugano, the Ceresio, which in the summer sunsets offers its most amber and seductive colors, the region is enriched by charming churches erected by the Magister Commacinus at the most panoramic points.
The Comacini masters, like those from Carona and Bissone, were famous throughout Europe starting from the Middle Ages for using new construction techniques based on enormous scaffolding and cranes (hence the name "cum machinis"). They erected famous architectural works such as St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican (Domenico Fontana from Melide, Carlo Maderno from Capolago, and Francesco Borromini from Bissone); the Milan Cathedral (Marco Solari from Carona was for some years the general engineer of the factory); the Cathedral of Trento, the seat of the Counter - Reformation (Adamo da Arogno); the Cathedral and noble palaces of Saint Petersburg (Domenico Trezzini from Astano); and the reconstruction of the Kremlin (Domenico Gilardi from Montagnola).
From this idea came the proposal, in collaboration with LuganoRegion, the Hermann Hesse Museum in Montagnola, and the Municipality of Morcote, to offer some collateral activities allowing spectators to live unforgettable experiences made of history, culture, and landscape nature, greatly ennobling our region.
A proposal not only musical but also touristic, wanted at its foundation in 1976 by the sisters Alice and Natalina Moretti, with the artistic consultation of Lucienne Rosset. Thus, Carona Estate was first born, becoming Ceresio Estate in 1978. Over these long years, Rosset has been able to invite a multitude of Ticino musicians who, after their debut at Ceresio Estate, have gone on to successful careers. These include Fabio di Càsola, Diego Fasolis, Claude Hauri, Elisa Netzer, Cristoforo Pestalozzi, Luca Pianca, Emanuele Segre, Daria and Mattia Zappa, Omar Zoboli, Maristella Patuzzi, and Giulia Genini.
With the incredible development of the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana, which in just a few decades has become a European - level university thanks to fruitful collaboration with renowned teachers in the performance section, and with the establishment of pre - professional courses that have proven to be unique, it is logical that Ceresio Estate should dedicate itself to offering adequate space also to the many talented students who are training or perfecting their skills in Besso, or who have just completed their education and often choose to settle in Lugano.
Considerable space is also dedicated to those active in the Lugano music scene as musicians or composers, benefiting from valuable collaboration with other music festivals active in the area and with ReteDue of the Italian - speaking Swiss Radio.
If in past centuries the Comacini Masters exported Ticino - made art and building culture, now the attractive musical opportunities present in the area allow many young people to come to train and
work in Ticino. Therefore, they should be valued to the fullest and deserve a stage in our concert series.
