Orvieto, Italy - The enchanting city of Orvieto is ready to embrace the festive season with several exciting events planned for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. With its medieval charm as the backdrop, this historical town invites locals and visitors alike to partake in community festivities filled with music, spirituality, and cultural experiences.
On December 22, 2024, the Duomo di Orvieto will host the much-anticipated Christmas Carol Service, titled “Da Oriente a Occidente. Christmas Carol Service.” Organized by La Corale Polifonica del Duomo di Orvieto, known as “Vox et Jubilum,” this event aims to provide not just musical entertainment but also a deep, reflective liturgical experience. The service will be presided over by Monsignor Gualtiero Sigismondi, the bishop of the Diocese of Orvieto-Todi, creating what organizers describe as “an experience rich in spirituality against the majestic atmosphere of the Duomo.”
According to the event’s organizers, “I più bei canti natalizi si intrecceranno con i momenti più alti della Parola di Dio…” (Translation: “The most beautiful Christmas carols will intertwine with the highest moments of the Word of God...”). This quote highlights the service’s intent to guide attendees on a symbolic path from darkness to light during this holy season, culminating at the Bethlehem cave to adore the Redeemer.
Performers will include notable guest artists like baritone Colin Baldi, who will entertain attendees alongside brass instrumentalists Gabriele Falcioni, Francesco Ferrante, and Marco Alberti. The collaborative effort features the vocal group “Cherries on a Swing Set” and the “Io ci sono per” Association, guarantee of making this event memorable.
Christmas festivities continue as the New Year approaches, particularly with the return of the famed Umbria Jazz Winter festival. From December 28, 2024, to January 1, 2025, the festival will transform Orvieto’s historical center with over ninety events celebrating live music, art, and gastronomy. Over 150 artists across twenty-five resident bands will perform at six prestigious locations, including Teatro Mancinelli and Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo.
The excitement will start on December 31, when the celebrations culminate with enchanting musical performances. Highlights include the energetic marching band Funk Off, which will set the stage for the New Year’s Eve festivities. According to various sources, it will be “la notte di San Silvestro” (New Year's Eve) when visitors will partake in special dinners at luxurious venues such as Sala Expo and Palazzo dei Sette, creating an exquisite dining experience complemented by vibrant music performances.
Events will kick off at 11:00 AM with UJ4KIDS, aimed at introducing younger audiences to the magic of jazz. The musical festivities will only intensify from noon onwards, featuring captivating performances like the Joel Ross Trio and the Dino Rubino Trio, which promise to immerse the audience in the rhythmic allure of jazz.
For those who appreciate the beauty of cultural traditions, the Nativity scene exhibition titled “E vidi l’aria colpita da stupore” will debut on December 21 at the church of Santi Pietro e Paolo. This initiative is part of the “A Natale Regalati Orvieto” project, promoting and enhancing local ecclesiastical heritage. Leading the exhibition will be artwork experts, including Don Emanuele Frenguelli and Professor Enrico Genovesi. This exhibition aims to explore the historical and artistic representations of the Nativity, with various nativity scenes crafted from diverse materials on display.
The exhibition will remain open until January 12, providing ample opportunity for the local community and visitors to appreciate this rich cultural heritage. “Proprio la tradizione popolare ci consente di avvicinarci al Natale...” (Translation: “The popular tradition allows us to approach Christmas...”) according to curators discussing the exhibition's significance, focusing on the birth of Jesus as central to these representations.
Orvieto has certainly outdone itself this holiday season, combining music, spirituality, and cultural reflection to create a festive atmosphere unlike any other. Join the locals and revelers as they gather to celebrate, reflect, and usher in the New Year within the enchanting walls of this medieval town.
