The festival was created in 1998 as part of the commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the court of Ferrara’s move to Modena, and is set in local churches, castles, palaces and museums. Since then it has become a national and international reference point for early music.

The festival places special attention on the recovery and dissemination of works from the valuable music collection held at the Library of the Este court, an archive housing musical treasures from the Middle Ages. 17 concerts and numerous activities are scheduled to take place during this year’s festival.

Enrico Gatti’s Ensemble Aurora opens the Festival on 7 September with Stradella’s oratorio San Giovanni Battista. Among other highlights included are Rolf Lislevand performing a vihuela and baroque guitar recital on 14 October. L’Arte dell’Arco, conducted by Federico Guglielmo, will present a program based on the theme of Don Quixote on 15 October, consisting of music by Telemann and Boismortier. On 17 October the Ensemble La Reverdie will perform Guillaume Dufay’s Missa Sancti Jacobi.

On 19 October London Baroque will present an anthology of English chamber music from Purcell to Handel. Boccherini’s Stabat Mater is the main draw on 20 October, performed by Maria Cristina Kiehr and the Ensemble 415, directed by Chiara Banchini. Mara Galassi will give a harp recital including music by Handel on 24 October, while Fretwork first appear on 26 October, two further concerts scheduled during the festival.

On 28 October Ensemble Zefiro will present an anthology of works from the time of Duke Francesco III d’Este. On 2 November Ensemble Brixia Musicales is scheduled to perform a program based on music from the court of Venice. And finally, on 10 November, the Ensemble Concerto, directed by Roberto Gini, will perform secular music by Monteverdi.