Venue: Auditorium Biagio Marin, Via Marchesini, 31 - Grado
Website: https://ertfvg.it/spettacoli/orcolat-76/
Friday 23 October 2026 – 8.45 pm
Duration: 90 minutes, no interval
performed in Italian
Orcolat’76, a production commissioned and produced by Edit Eventi and Folkest for the ERT, with the support of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and the Municipality of Gemona del Friuli. This production was first staged in Gemona Cathedral on 15 September 2016, exactly forty years after the second, devastating Friuli earthquake, thanks at the time to the Province of Udine and the Municipality of Gemona.
Numerous high-calibre artistic organisations are involved in this significant collaborative effort under the FVG banner: from the Friuli Venezia Giulia Choir, prepared by Maestro Cristiano Dell’Oste, to the FVG Orchestra, both conducted by Maestro Valter Sivilotti, with recitations by Anna Maria De Monte and vocal performances by Francesca Gallo, right through to the composers of a series of historic songs in the Friulian language that will be revived for the occasion, such as Giorgio Ferigo, Dario Zampa and Ennio Zampa. The music, specially composed by Valter Sivilotti with previously unpublished lyrics by Renato Stroili from Gemona and Simone Cristicchi himself, is particularly evocative. The theatrical portion is the work of Simona Orlando and Cristicchi himself.
For, as Pliny the Elder wrote, ‘Where it has been, the earthquake returns; and where it has never been, it comes.’ These days of remembrance have brought to light dormant memories and wounds that are still raw, even after so many years – scars that will never fade. Fifty years on from that May and that September of ’76, when the earth rose like a giant wave and then receded to rest as if nothing had happened. “In those moments,” comment Simone Cristicchi and Simona Orlando, “you can see the vines soar to heaven and plummet back to hell.” The Orcolat is still alive, a swift and ravenous creature that chases you and wants to catch up with you at all costs. An account of the events of that year – tragic, yes, but the foundation for a rebirth that bordered on the miraculous and brought to Italy’s attention what came to be known as the ‘Friuli model’, as has also been recalled in recent days. A meticulous work, documented through the memories and accounts of those who lived through those moments; a work that retraces those days – amid reality, dreams and hope for the future – forming a sort of ideal bridge to the days in which it was created.
with Simone Cristicchi
accordion and vocals: Francesca Gallo
narrator: Anna Maria De Monte
Friuli Venezia Giulia Choir prepared by Maestro Cristiano Dell’Oste
FVG Orchestra conducted by Maestro Valter Sivilotti
text by Simona Orlando and Simone Cristicchi
original music: Valter Sivilotti
Information
tel: 0431 85834 / biglietteria@ertfvg.it
Municipal Library
tel: 0431 82630
Culture Office
tel: 0431 898269
Tickets and advance sales
TICKETS:
Full price €24.00 / Concessions €21.00 / Concessions for over-65s, under-25s and ERT season ticket holders.
GRADO THEATRE TICKETS:
Single seat €5,00 / free for theatre season ticket holders
ADVANCE BOOKING:
Online from Monday 19 October at ertfvg.it – at the Auditorium two days before the performance from 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm and on the day of the performance from 5.30 pm until the start of the performance.
Production: Edit Eventi srl
in collaboration with ERT FVG