The Polo delle Arti Festival (PAF) 2025, conceived and directed by Gianfranco Gallo in collaboration with Valter Luca De Bartolomeis and with the support of the Polo delle Arti Caselli Palizzi, it took place in Napoli with a program dedicated to Antonio Petito and to the tradition of the Commedia dell'Arte.
Contents
- 1. Conception and Direction of the Festival
- 2. Homage to Antonio Petito and the Commedia dell'Arte
- 3. Protagonists on Stage
- 1 Artists on Stage
- 2 Theatrical Show: “Don Felice Sciosciammocca believed to be a boy in the year”
- 4. Prizes and Awards
- 5. Music Section and Live Performance
- 1 Traditional and Contemporary Music
- 2 Palizzi Youth Commitment
- 6. Collaborations and Institutional Support
- 7. Special Thanks
- 8. Future perspectives
- 1 Sources
The event, completely free and sponsored by theDepartment of Tourism of the Municipality of Naples, saw the participation of established artists and young talents, musical performances, theatrical shows inspired by Neapolitan culture and the involvement of personalities from the world of school and culture. This edition, in particular, paid homage to Antonio Petito, famous interpreter of Pulcinella of the 19th century, offering a rich programme that combined past and present, tradition and innovation.
Conception and Direction of the Festival
PAF 2025 was officially presented as the second edition of the Polo delle Arti Festival, a free event conceived and organized by Gianfranco Gallo in collaboration with the Caselli Palizzi Arts Centre and “Palizzi” Choreographic High School of Naples.
Gianfranco Gallo, known for his experience as an actor, director and playwright, shared the artistic direction with Walter Luca De Bartolomeis, underlining the importance of valorising the Neapolitan cultural tradition through contemporary projects. The event enjoyed the sponsorship of the Department of Tourism of the Municipality of Naples, which believed in the project from its first steps thanks to the commitment of theCouncilor Teresa Armato.
Homage to Antonio Petito and the Commedia dell'Arte
This edition of the PAF was dedicated to Antonio Petito, one of the greatest exponents of the Neapolitan Commedia dell'Arte of the nineteenth century, known for his interpretation of Pulcinella and for his mimetic and dramatic abilities despite his semi-illiterate condition. Born in Naples in 1822, Petito was the son of Salvatore Petito and Giuseppina D'Errico, and inherited the mask of Pulcinella thanks to his father's guidance, consecrating himself as "Totonno 'o pazzo" for his scenic energy (Antonio Petito, Wikipedia). His theatrical production, often entrusted to the correction of collaborators such as Giacomo Marulli, and his ability to sing, dance and choreograph shows, still make him a point of reference for Neapolitan theatre.
Protagonists on Stage
Artists on Stage
- Giacomo Rizzo e Benedetto Casillo They opened the performance program, proposing pieces focused on the heritage of the Commedia dell'Arte and on classical Neapolitan authors, reinterpreted in a modern key.
- Among the young interpreters, Cristian Izzo He presented monologues inspired by traditional masks, entering into perfect harmony with the historical protagonists of the Commedia dell'Arte.
- The faces of television Francis Del Gaudio e Gianluca Di Gennaro Instead, they combined elements of theatrical acting with cinematic suggestions, offering the public a bridge between the tradition of the Neapolitan scene and new forms of visual entertainment.
Theatrical Show: “Don Felice Sciosciammocca believed to be a boy in the year”
One of the most anticipated moments was the show “Don Felice Sciosciammocca credeno guaglione 'en anno”, directed and performed by Roberto CapassoThe show, inspired by the Petitian scripts, saw the participation of In the Provenzano, Miriam Of The Court e Valentina Martiniello, three actors capable of paying homage to the Neapolitan tradition through the mimicry, singing and dancing typical of popular theatre.
Prizes and Awards
During the PAF 2025 evenings, several personalities from the world of culture and education were awarded, to underline the fundamental role of these sectors in preserving and renewing the local artistic heritage. Among the awardees:
- Donatella Trotta, for his commitment to promoting theatre education in Neapolitan high schools.
- Rachel Cimmino, teacher and theatre critic, recognised for her studies on Commedia dell'Arte and dialect theatre.
- Sunday of Sorbo, author of publications on the contamination between classical and contemporary theatre in Naples.
- Francesca DiTranso, curator and art historian, awarded for her projects to enhance the cultural heritage of Naples.
Music Section and Live Performance
Traditional and Contemporary Music
The music festival hosted artists capable of combining roots and experimentation:
- Antonio Maiello, singer-songwriter known for his songs that recover ancient sounds and contaminate them with modern arrangements.
- Michael Viscount, interpreter of classical Neapolitan pieces in an acoustic key, with particular attention to the popular vocal tradition.
- The group My Beautiful Country, who presented a repertoire of tarantellas and tammurriate, involving the audience in the overwhelming rhythms of Campanian folk music.
- Matthew and John Mauriello, a duo of musician brothers, have intertwined ancient melodies with jazz suggestions, experimenting with new forms of Neapolitan expression.
- Il Vesuvian Artistic Collective, made up of young performers, completed the live section with a repertoire of traditional music revisited in a contemporary key, enhancing the popular heritage of the Vesuvian area.
Palizzi Youth Commitment
Il Music High School and Choreographic High School “Palizzi” of Naples contributed with choreographies and musical performances prepared by the students, demonstrating how the new generations know how to reinterpret with energy and freshness the classics of the Neapolitan repertoire. Among these, the choreography “Around Pulcinella” by Nyko Piscopo, the result of the artistic direction of Gallo and De Bartolomeis, which achieved great success with the public and critics.
Collaborations and Institutional Support
From the very beginning, PAF 2025 was able to count on the support of theDepartment of Tourism of the Municipality of Naples, thanks to the commitment of the councilor Teresa Armato, who believed in the importance of promoting free cultural initiatives to enhance the territory and its artistic tradition. The logistical and organizational contribution of the Caselli Palizzi Arts Centre, which provided spaces and resources for rehearsals and performances of the numerous performances.
A special thanks also goes to Sergio D'Angelo, friend and collaborator of Gianfranco Gallo, whose support has allowed for the effective coordination of the different souls of the festival, from artistic direction to communication and institutional relations.
Special Thanks
PAF 2025 has been able to count on a wide network of personal and professional collaborations, including:
- Chiara Mallozzi, for the care of the stage settings and the supervision of the choreographic performances.
- Rachel Cimmino, who in addition to her recognition as a theatre critic, contributed to the organisation of cultural debates during the festival evenings.
- Alfredo Le Boffe, for technical support and management of audio-lighting equipment.
- Lisa Emperor, who took care of the promotion on social media, increasing the visibility of the event among the Neapolitan and international public.
- Bianca and Greta Gallo, daughters of Gianfranco Gallo, present for their collaboration in the graphic and artistic communication part.
- Roseli Rita Ferraiuoli e Patricia Mauro, for their contribution as hostesses and public representatives, ensuring a warm welcome for guests and spectators.
Future perspectives
The success of PAF 2025 confirms the importance of cultural initiatives that can dialogue with the Neapolitan artistic tradition, focusing on its historical roots to generate new forms of entertainment and performance.
The tribute to Antonio Petito and the Commedia dell'Arte has created an ideal line of continuity between past and present, involving prominent artists and young talents in an event that has managed to attract an audience of all ages and interests.
The appointment with the Polo delle Arti Festival is therefore renewed with the aim of growing further in the years to come, consolidating collaborations, expanding the program of shows and increasingly involving local and regional institutions in the promotion of Neapolitan culture.
The support of the Department of Tourism of the Municipality of Naples and of all the figures identified in the organizational team represents the basis on which to build future editions even richer and more participated, with the hope that the PAF becomes a stable point of reference for the artistic scene of the Neapolitan city.
Sources
- Facebook – Kolibrì Naples: Post related to the 2025 edition of the PAF dedicated to Antonio Petito and the Commedia dell'Arte. (facebook.com)
- Virgilio.it: Article “Polo delle Arti Festival 2025: the second edition of the event is underway”. (virgilio.it)
- Communicating the social: List of news, including the announcement of the launch of the free event conceived and directed by Gianfranco Gallo (27 May 2025). (csvnapoli.it)
- Wikipedia – Antonio Petito: Biography and roles of Antonio Petito in the Commedia dell'Arte. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Facebook – Plebiscite Home Holidays: Post announcing the launch of the free event PAF 2025 conceived and directed by G. Gallo. (facebook.com)
- Instagram – Choreographic High School “Palizzi” of Naples: Post with choreography and artistic direction by G. Gallo and V. De Bartolomeis, citing the previous edition, however related to the collaboration with the “Palizzi” High School in the context of the PAF. (facebook.com, Instagram.com)
Article published on 5 June 2025 - 23:52
Video Chronicles
The Polo delle Arti Festival 2025 was a great initiative, but I would have expected more attention to traditions. Commedia dell'Arte is an important part of our culture and should be valued more. Young artists also deserve opportunities.