7 July-10 Aug 2006. In celebration of its 25th consecutive concert season, the International Chamber Ensemble presents a programme of 14 evenings featuring music from the symphonic and operatic repertory in the courtyard of one of Romes most splendid examples of Renaissance architecture. Located close to Piazza Navona, the courtyard of S. Ivo alla Sapienza (hallowed halls of the original 15th century university of Rome) will lend its architectural and acoustical excellence, to the International Chamber Ensembles 2006 summer series, with works ranging from Vivaldi and Beethoven to Gershwin and Piazzolla as well as four fully-staged and costumed performances of Franz Lehars operetta "The Merry Widow", presented in collaboration with the Opera Academy. Concerts begin at 21.30.

For those who like to plan ahead: The Accademia Nazionale di S. Cecilia is out to impress with two completely different summer seasons: in the open-air "Cavea" at the Auditorium-Parco della Musica, a cycle of events dedicated to "Womens Voices" with concerts featuring four music divas, each of them a symbol of the musical tradition of their own country; they are Cesaria Evora (12 July) from Cape Verde, the queen of contemporary soul Erykah Badu (17 July) from Dallas, Cheikah Rimitti (18 July) from Algeria, and Omara Portuondo (24 July) from Cuba. For classical music lovers, Tchaikovsky is the star from 5 to 20 July in a series of concerts conducted by Antonio Pappano and by the young Gustavo Dudamei who is raking in world-wide critical and public acclaim.