Pichuco Festival 2026 ARCHI/CHIETI

**PICHUCO FESTIVAL 2026**
**Aníbal “Pichuco” Troilo**
**July 25-26, 2026, Largo Fontana Tommaso Melchiorre in Archi (Chieti)**

**Sunday, July 26, at 17:00**
**THE FIVE ANGLES Aníbal Troilo, Stories of Tango by Andreina Di Girolamo**

*In an absolute preview at Pichuco Festival 2026, the presentation of the book "The Five Angles – Aníbal Troilo, Stories of Tango" by Andreina Di Girolamo. A dialogue with the author Anna Scafati.*

**Description**
The life of **Aníbal “Pichuco” Troilo** is told in an intense and poetic narrative that follows his journey: from playing ball with friends and brother Marcos, to the chance encounter with the bandoneón, the instrument that would forever change his destiny. It recounts his early performances, collaborations with the great masters of Tango, and the deep and passionate love for Ida Dudui Kalacci, known as Zita, who would accompany him until the end of his days. In the backdrop of his life stand the loving and constant figures of his mother Felisa, his grandmother Concezia, and the community of emigrants from Agnone, the hometown of his maternal grandparents.

As a counterpoint to the story of the bandoneón maestro of Buenos Aires flows the tale of Lisa, a young woman who, through Tango and especially Troilo's music, embarks on an inner journey to discover her own emotions and deeper values. Thanks to this experience, Lisa regains confidence in herself and others, rediscovering the desire to live her life fully.
A narrative that unites memory, music, and emotion, dedicated to those who wish to be guided by a story in which music becomes a universal language of emotions.

**Aníbal “Pichuco” Troilo** is undoubtedly one of the most emblematic and influential figures in the history of Argentine Tango. **Born in Buenos Aires on July 11, 1914, in the vibrant Abasto neighborhood**, Troilo was able to combine talent, passion, and innovation to become an immortal symbol of this musical genre. His nickname, **“Pichuco,”** which was given to him as a child, has become synonymous with his unique style and charismatic personality, recognized and loved around the world.

A particularly fascinating aspect of Troilo's life concerns his family roots, which deeply connect him to Southern Italy. **His paternal grandparents came from Archi, a small town in Abruzzo, while his maternal grandmother was from Agnone in Molise.** These ties to Southern Italy not only enrich his cultural identity but also represent a bridge between two worlds, the Argentine and the Italian, united by the history of emigration and a passion for music.
This dual Italian heritage is a source of pride both in Argentina and in Italy, where Troilo is celebrated with events like the **Pichuco Festival in Archi**, which pays homage to his figure and his roots. His music and cultural legacy continue to live on, influencing not only Tango but also international folk music.

His musical career was extraordinary in many aspects. As a bandoneonist, Troilo was a virtuoso, able to convey deep emotions and shades of great technical refinement through his instrument.
In 1937, he founded his orchestra, which quickly established itself as one of the most important and innovative in the Tango landscape. His ability to combine tradition with new musical ideas elevated Tango to a higher artistic level, making his music a reference point for generations of musicians and enthusiasts.
Troilo was not only an interpreter but also a prolific composer. Among his most famous pieces are **“La Cumparsita,” “Sur,” “Barrio de Tango,” and “Pa’ que balien los muchachos,”** pieces that have become part of the classic Tango repertoire and continue to be performed and loved worldwide.

In short, Aníbal “Pichuco” Troilo represents much more than a musician: he is a cultural symbol whose life and work tell a story of talent, passion, and deep roots that cross continents and generations.

*Andreina Di Girolamo,
A pianist trained at the school of **Salvatore Orlando** and a former harpsichord teacher at the conservatories of Benevento and Campobasso, is a respected concert artist and researcher. Described as a “Cultural agitator of infinite energy,” she passionately dedicates herself to promoting music through projects aimed at institutions and cultural associations. **From 2016 to 2019, she served as the artistic director of the “Friends of Music” Walter De Angelis Association in Campobasso.**
**In 2019, the Promotion Woman Association awarded her the “Woman of the Year” prize in the culture sector. She has written about the life and works of composers Corradino D’Agnillo and Franco Paolantonio, and has edited their critical manuscripts.
In duo with Silvia Rambaldi, with whom she dedicates herself to the repertoire for four-hand harpsichord and two harpsichords, she has produced numerous concert-events and recorded four-hand sonatas by W. A. Mozart (Baryton 2005) and two-harpsichord sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti (Tactus 2025), which received the highest five-star recognition from the magazine Suonare; these sonatas, entirely reworked for two instruments, have been published in print (Ets editions).
With Rosanna Carnevale, she recorded the CD Cortége (Baryton2025), dedicated to the four-hand repertoire of Claude Debussy, Gabriel Fauré, and Maurice Ravel. With the same repertoire, they perform in the play "l’altra Elena," alongside actress Daniela Poggi, receiving acclaim from audiences and critics.**
She debuted as a writer in 2018 with the novel Melodia op.1 (Albatros), dedicated to composer Franco Paolantonio, followed by **"A Bubble of Perfect Time"** (il Bene comune edizioni) in 2022, dedicated to painter and pianist Elena Ciamarra, and in 2024, **"That Friday in September from the Faded and Tired Sun"** (Dieci Lune editions, Scripta Manent editions).
For Ephemeria, she will publish the volume "The Five Angles. Aníbal Troilo, stories of Tango" in June 2026.*

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**Detailed Calendar of the “Pichuco Festival” 2026 in Archi (CH)**
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**July 25, 2026**
17:00 - Largo Fontana Tommaso Melchiorre
• Event: **“Aníbal Troilo Pichuco: between tango, memory, and emigration”**
• With the High Patronage of the Abruzzo Region
• Participants:
- Leonardo Porreca, Pichuco and Friends Association
- Francisco Torné, nephew of Aníbal Troilo
- Simone Marini, artistic director of the festival
- Miguel Ángel Zotto, teacher and Argentine tango dancer
- Goffredo Palmerini, journalist and writer
- Moderator: Barbara Del Fallo
• Followed by a mini concert of the orchestra Lo Que Vendrá with the participation of Miguel Ángel Zotto and Daiana Guspero.

20:30 - Largo Fontana Tommaso Melchiorre
• Art performance: **“The breath that remains / El respiro que queda”** curated by Carla Cerbaso.

21:00 - Piazza G. Marconi
• Event: **Folk in movement.**

22:00 - Terrazza San Nicola
• Gala milonga with live music (reservation required)
• Opening with the ronda of the masters:
- Monica Chiavarini and Gianluca Viola
- Luisa Volpi and Andrea Fischetti
- Daniela Scalabrini and Fabian Braña
- Martina Cerasoli and Anastas Bullaci
• Orchestra: Lo Que Vendrá
• Singer: Federico Pierro
• Tdj: Lisa Costa

23:30 - Terrazza San Nicola
• Show by Miguel Ángel Zotto and Daiana Guspero.

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**July 26, 2026**
10:30 - Departure from Piazza G. Marconi
• Tour of the village and its historic buildings.

13:00 - Largo Fontana Tommaso Melchiorre
• Lunch (reservation required): **“Abruzzo and Argentina: a meeting of flavors.”**

17:00 - Largo Fontana Tommaso Melchiorre
• Presentation of the book **“The Five Angles”** by Andreina Di Girolamo.
• Dialogue with the author Anna Scafati.

17:30 - Largo Fontana Tommaso Melchiorre
• Event: **“Tango: the art that conquered the world”** with Miguel Ángel Zotto.

18:00 - Largo Fontana Tommaso Melchiorre
• Farewell milonga with Tdj Ani (free entry).

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**Artistic Direction**
• Simone Marini

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**Activities during the two days**
• Artistic exhibitions
• Photo exhibition **“Toda una vida. The music, affections, and passions of Aníbal Troilo”**
• Food stands
Web: www.pichucofestival.com