5th Baroque Music of Two Worlds Festival Returns to Córdoba

The 5th edition of the Festival Música Barroca de Dos Mundos will take place across Córdoba, Argentina, from July 4 to July 19, featuring a series of free concerts dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the death of composer Domingo Zipoli. Organized by the Agencia Córdoba Cultura and the Fundación Barroca de Dos Mundos, the festival utilizes historic Jesuit heritage sites to showcase baroque repertoire performed by national ensembles.

A Tribute to Domingo Zipoli

This year’s festival centers on the legacy of Domingo Zipoli, an Italian-born Jesuit missionary and composer who became a central figure in colonial American music. According to the Agencia Córdoba Cultura, the programming is designed to create a dialogue between European and Hispano-American musical expressions from the 17th and 18th centuries.

The festival features a mix of standard baroque compositions and recently recovered pieces receiving their modern re-premiere. Notable performers include the organist Mario Masera, the ensemble Elocuencia Barroca, and the Coro de Egresados del ISEAM Domingo Zipoli, directed by Esteban Conde. These performances highlight the growth of the early music movement within Argentina.

Historic Venues as Concert Stages

The festival’s organizers aim to bridge the gap between music and architecture by selecting sites of significant historical value. Concerts are scheduled in locations such as the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, the Catedral de Córdoba, the Museo Evita Palacio Ferreyra, and the Museo Nacional Estancia Jesuítica de Jesús María.

Marcelo Rodio, head of the Agencia Córdoba Cultura, stated that the festival serves as a primary cultural offering for the winter holiday period, emphasizing the province’s commitment to preserving and sharing its cultural heritage through these living, architectural stages.

Festival Schedule and Locations

All events are free to the public. The schedule is as follows:

• July 4: Inaugural Concert at Plaza San Martín (11:30) and "Zipoli: Vigilia y Transfiguración" at the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús (21:00).
• July 5: "Zipoli: Sus Orígenes" at the Basílica de Santo Domingo (12:30).
• July 10: "Carissimi y Zipoli: Música Oscura" at the Iglesia de Santa Teresa (19:00).
• July 12: "Magnificat" at the Museo Nacional Estancia Jesuítica de Jesús María (17:00).
• July 16: "Lucrecia y los Pastores" at the Museo Evita Palacio Ferreyra (19:00).
• July 17: "San Ignacio de Loyola. La ópera del Otro" at the Centro Cultural UNC (19:00).
• July 19: "Un Barroco Desconocido" at the Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (13:00).

Institutional Support

The festival is backed by a coalition of public and private entities, including the Embajada de España en Argentina, the Consulado Italiano en Córdoba, the Instituto Italiano de Cultura, the Fundación Pro Arte, the Secretaría de Cultura de la Nación, and the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, among others. This collaboration facilitates the recovery of historical scores and provides the resources necessary to stage performances in protected heritage sites.