“Trento and Trieste at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century. ‘Making Music’ in the Name of the Nation: The Case of Filippo Manara and Vincenzo Gianferrari, ‘Regnicoli’ of the Bolognese School”
19 May 2026
Presented by Massimo Favento
On Tuesday 19 May at 6:00 p.m., the Antico Caffè San Marco in Trieste will host a new event in the cultural calendar organised by the Società internazionale di divulgazione Manlio Cecovini per gli studi storici sociali ed etici. The lecture will be delivered by Massimo Favento, who will reflect on the role of music within the political and cultural climate that preceded the Redenzione of Trento and Trieste.
The lecture will explore a relatively little-known aspect of national history: the engagement of musicians and intellectuals who, between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, viewed musical art as a means of supporting ideals of identity and belonging. Alongside the better-known symbolic use of works by the great Italian composers, Favento will highlight the contribution of a group of figures active in Romagna and Emilia, trained in the lively Bolognese school and influenced by the poetry of Carducci and Pascoli.
Within this context, Filippo Manara (1869–1929) and Vincenzo Gianferrari (1859–1939) emerge as key figures. These “regnicoli” professionals found opportunities and responsibilities within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, navigating concert performance, teaching, and cultural organisation. Their work was fundamental in establishing the Conservatories of Music in Trento and Trieste in the very early years of the twentieth century—an achievement still only partly recognised today, yet crucial for the musical development of both cities.
Massimo Favento, who holds degrees in Law and Musical Bibliography, has for many years pursued an intensive programme of research, publication, and dissemination. A music historian, cellist, and author of theatrical texts and incidental music, he collaborates with Italian and international cultural institutions. He is the founder of Lumen Harmonicum, overseeing its cultural promotion projects, and serves as a librarian and faculty member at the Conservatorio “F.A. Bonporti” in Trento.
The lecture, which is free to attend, forms part of the annual series organised by the Manlio Cecovini Association, dedicated to critical engagement with history and the dissemination of cultural themes of contemporary relevance, offering the public new perspectives and opportunities for reflection.
On Tuesday 19 May at 6:00 p.m., the Antico Caffè San Marco in Trieste will host a new event in the cultural calendar organised by the Società internazionale di divulgazione Manlio Cecovini per gli studi storici sociali ed etici. The lecture will be delivered by Massimo Favento, who will reflect on the role of music within the political and cultural climate that preceded the Redenzione of Trento and Trieste.
The lecture will explore a relatively little-known aspect of national history: the engagement of musicians and intellectuals who, between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, viewed musical art as a means of supporting ideals of identity and belonging. Alongside the better-known symbolic use of works by the great Italian composers, Favento will highlight the contribution of a group of figures active in Romagna and Emilia, trained in the lively Bolognese school and influenced by the poetry of Carducci and Pascoli.
Within this context, Filippo Manara (1869–1929) and Vincenzo Gianferrari (1859–1939) emerge as key figures. These “regnicoli” professionals found opportunities and responsibilities within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, navigating concert performance, teaching, and cultural organisation. Their work was fundamental in establishing the Conservatories of Music in Trento and Trieste in the very early years of the twentieth century—an achievement still only partly recognised today, yet crucial for the musical development of both cities.
Massimo Favento, who holds degrees in Law and Musical Bibliography, has for many years pursued an intensive programme of research, publication, and dissemination. A music historian, cellist, and author of theatrical texts and incidental music, he collaborates with Italian and international cultural institutions. He is the founder of Lumen Harmonicum, overseeing its cultural promotion projects, and serves as a librarian and faculty member at the Conservatorio “F.A. Bonporti” in Trento.
The lecture, which is free to attend, forms part of the annual series organised by the Manlio Cecovini Association, dedicated to critical engagement with history and the dissemination of cultural themes of contemporary relevance, offering the public new perspectives and opportunities for reflection.
