Borders Night

A big closing event for “Confini: From Gauguin to Hopper” is set for April 11th. Villa Manin will come alive with a special multisensory evening, offering guests a rich and diverse cultural experience.

The event will open with an ensemble from the Wiener Symphoniker, ready to enchant the audience with a world-class program of classical and contemporary music. Joining them as a special guest will be the talented Triestino violinist and composer Pierpaolo Foti.

The experience will be further enhanced by a reception featuring a menu of local dishes and regional wines, provided by the Association of Pro Loco of Friuli Venezia Giulia (UNPLI FVG). At the entrance of the Esedra, which houses the exhibition, guests will be welcomed by the scent of Villa Manin’s park—an olfactory experience created specifically for the event by Lorenzo Dante Ferro, Master Perfumer and Conservator of the Art of Perfumery.

Admission to the event is free and open to the public, designed to engage the entire community. Attendees will include the Vice President of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Mario Anzil, and the exhibition’s curator, Marco Goldin.

The initiative represents a significant experiment in cultural production, positioning itself as a “frontier culture” event in continuity with the first “Night of Borders,” the major video-mapping event held last December 26th.

“This evening,” states Vice President Anzil, “represents a symbolic moment of great value for our territory: an occasion where art, music, and identity meet to tell the story of a region that views borders as places of dialogue and growth.”

The Exhibition – Confini: From Gauguin to Hopper

The exhibition “Confini: From Gauguin to Hopper. Song with Variations,” hosted at Villa Manin from October 11, 2025, to April 12, 2026, brings together over 130 masterpieces from international museums. It explores the theme of the border as a physical, internal, and symbolic space through two centuries of painting, starting from Gauguin, Van Gogh, and Monet. Curated by Marco Goldin, the exhibition offers an immersive journey through landscapes, self-portraits, and modern visions, establishing itself as a major cultural and tourism milestone for Friuli Venezia Giulia, attracting over 100,000 visitors.

Wiener Symphoniker

The Chamber Music Ensemble of the prestigious Wiener Symphoniker brings together four extraordinary musicians: violinist Stefan Pöchhacker, clarinettist Martin Rainer, cellist Michael Günther, and accordionist Bogdan Laketic. With this unique instrumentation, they bring to life a distinctive and captivating artistic project.

This original combination creates fascinating connections across eras and styles, fostering a dialogue between Bach and Mahler and pairing Johann Strauss with Richard Strauss. The musical journey spans from the great classical tradition to the Balkans and the Middle East, ultimately returning to the warmth and elegance of the Viennese tradition.

Through a rich and varied repertoire, these musicians offer a fresh and refined reinterpretation of Vienna’s musical legacy, remarkable for its expressive intensity and stylistic versatility. Their exceptional skill and unique instrumental blend result in a sound that is both unique and instantly recognizable.

Pierpaolo Foti

Pierpaolo Foti (Trieste, 1997) is an Italian violinist and composer known for his ability to blend classical tradition with contemporary experimentation. He began studying the violin at age 10, continuing his education at the conservatories of Trieste, Florence, Parma, and Genoa, and later in various European capitals, focusing his career on a personal and innovative stylistic search.