The world turns its eyes to the Byron and Risorgimento Museums, and on the grand closing day of the Ravenna Festival 2025, the artists of Les Étoiles pour Homme—who will perform tonight (Sunday, 13 July) in the dance gala that concludes the Festival at the Pala De André—chose to visit the museums this morning. The museums are dedicated to the great British Romantic poet Lord Byron, the ‘Hero of Two Worlds’ Giuseppe Garibaldi, and the Italian Risorgimento.
It was a significant visit that offered rich opportunities for cultural and historical-literary insights. Accustomed to travelling around the world and visiting prestigious museums globally, the artists especially appreciated the modernity, flexibility, and inclusivity of these museums. They were able to engage with several topics based on their individual interests thanks to the wide range of multimedia experiences available to visitors.
The artists were captivated by the historical and documentary significance of the precious artifacts on display—related to Byron, Teresa Guiccioli, Garibaldi, and other heroes of the Risorgimento. Fascinating stories, such as that of the copy of Madame de Staël’s Corinne and Byron’s skin, narratives from epistolary correspondences, historical reconstructions, and immersive realities impressed many of the visitors. Several among them were surprised by the dual narrative approach of the museums that are located in the very place where many of the events took place. This choice adds not only charm, but also authenticity and depth to the stories narrated in the museums.
Les Étoiles pour Homme, curated by Daniele Cipriani, is presented in Ravenna exclusively for the Festival. It features: Sergio Bernal, Davide Dato, Tatiana Youbetyabootskaya, Lloyd Knight, David Moore, Simone Repele, Sasha Riva, Mario Genovese, Lorenzo Fiorito, Nicola Stasi, and Giuseppe Villarosa. It is a grand finale for the Ravenna Festival, and the hope is that the deep inspiration drawn from this morning visit to the Byron and Risorgimento Museums might one day inspire the performers of tonight’s gala with new artistic and literary ideas.
Ravenna, July 13, 2025
