Riccardo Muti Leads Concert at Villa Verdi to Protest Neglect of Composer's Home
On September 12, 2026, conductor Riccardo Muti directed a performance of Verdi's compositions at Villa Verdi in Sant'Agata, referring to it as a "meeting among musicians" to draw attention to the villa's dilapidated state. Established in 1848, the villa has been closed since 2022 and was taken over by the Italian State in December 2024. Muti expressed his discontent with previous governments for their lack of care. Three ministers from Giorgia Meloni's administration were present, and Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli announced a commitment of 6.5 million euros for restoration, subject to bureaucratic approval. The villa, where Verdi resided until his passing, has suffered significant deterioration, with reports of falling fences and decaying plaster.
Key facts
- Riccardo Muti led musicians in Verdi works at Villa Verdi in Sant'Agata, Villanova sull'Arda, on September 12, 2026
- Villa Verdi has been closed since 2022 and was expropriated by the Italian State in December 2024
- Verdi built the villa in 1848 and lived there from 1851 until his death in 1901
- Muti said all governments 'of the right, center and left have been awful, there has been abandonment'
- Ministers Alessandro Giuli, Gianmarco Mazzi and Tommaso Foti attended the event
- 6.5 million euros were allocated for four phases of work, including structural consolidation and garden restoration
- 375,000 euros were spent on roof repairs completed in 2025
- Works await approval from the Conferenza Stato-Regioni before starting
Entities
Artists
- Giuseppe Verdi
- Riccardo Muti
- Giuseppina Strepponi
- Maria Filomena Verdi
- Angiolo Carrara Verdi
- Alessandro Giuli
- Gianmarco Mazzi
- Tommaso Foti
- Giorgia Meloni
- Gennaro Sangiuliano
- Maria Carrara Verdi
- Barberina Strepponi
- Giuditta Ricordi
- Teresa Stolz
- Umberto Campanari
- Giulio Ricordi
- Leopoldo Metlicovitz
Institutions
- Villa Verdi
- Ministero della Cultura
- Ministero dell'Economia
- Conferenza Stato-Regioni
- Teatro alla Scala
- Fondazione Villa Verdi
- Programma Grandi Progetti Beni Culturali 2025-2027
Locations
- Sant'Agata
- Villanova sull'Arda
- Busseto
- Parma
- Italy
- Milan