It was the first example of an English-style garden in the city of Milan and houses a 50-meter-long neoclassical villa, once the Italian residence of Napoleon Bonaparte. Surrounding this majestic residence, now home to the Gallery of Modern Art and one of Milan’s most beautiful bars, lies a large park spanning approximately 24,000 m².
This year, the villa and its natural surroundings are taking part in a renowned initiative aimed at making music more accessible in Milan, following in the footsteps of events like Candlelight or offerings such as La Scala Under 30/35. On a completely exceptional basis, this weekend both the English garden and the shores of the park’s internal pond will be transformed into a wonderful stage immersed in nature for a series of completely free classical concerts.
Concerts in the English garden of an 18th-century villa: the complete program
As part of the 2026 edition of Piano City Milano, Villa Belgiojoso (or Villa Reale) opens the gates of its English-style garden and pond to musicians and music lovers for a weekend of tributes and classical concerts, featuring the Piano Giardino and Piano Laghetto series.
Garden Level…
The event kicks off on Saturday, May 16, with Piano Giardino, where at 10:30 a.m., Giulio Libero Consoli will pay tribute to Chopin, followed at 12:10 p.m. by Kostantin Emelyanov. The day continues with a concert dedicated to the Belle Époque, performed by Axel Trolese at 3:40 p.m., conceived in harmony with the Troubetzkoy exhibition currently on view at the Galleria d’Arte Moderna (GAM).
Next, Enrico Intra will present a preview of new compositions inspired by the GAM itself, which will be featured on his upcoming album. The evening concludes at 7:50 PM with a concert by Danilo Blaiotta and the debut of his new tribute project to Paolo Conte. On Sunday the 17th, the program ranges from contemporary works to the great repertoire, with a special tribute to the music of Hans Otte, one hundred years after his birth.
…Piano Laghetto
Piano Laghetto presents a program designed to highlight the intimacy of the venue. On Saturday, May 16 , the Duo Intreccio will perform at 11:20 a.m., with a repertoire that reimagines nature through the eyes of childhood, followed by Mila Gostijanovic at 2:50 p.m., with a concert in collaboration with Concerts au Château de Ville d’Avray. Also not to be missed is the all-female project “Dancing Queens” by Ginevra Costantini Negri and Elena Chiavegato at 7:00 p.m., featuring works by Mel Bonis, Amy Beach, Fanny Mendelssohn, and other prominent composers.
On Sunday the 17th, the stage welcomes Davide Conte at 11:20 a.m., runner-up at the 2025 Venice Prize, followed by the program “Napoleon and Other Heroes”by Francesco Libetta & friends at 1:00 p.m., which could hardly find a more fitting setting than the pond in the garden of Napoleon’s former Italian villa. Finally, at 4:30 p.m., Gisela Mabel presents a concert that blends jazz, African influences, and contemporary sensibilities, closing out the day with a mix of elegance and rhythm.
