Information, prices & participation requirements
The course takes place from Saturday, March 28 to Sunday, April 5, 2026, at the picturesque Villa Pitiana, a charming 18th-century villa located in Reggello, on the gentle hills near Florence in the idyllic Tuscany, Italy.
(www.villapitiana.com)
Instruction start: Sunday, 29.03.2026 from 09:30
Instruction end: Module A: Saturday, 29.03.2026
Module B: Tuesday, 07.04.2026 (or earlier by arrangement with the instructor)
Course duration: 8 or 10 days
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Arrival:
Villa Pitiana welcomes course participants from 16:00 on Saturday, 28 March 2026. The nearest airport to the venue is Florence (FLR). A bit further away are the airports of Pisa (PSA) or Bologna (BLQ). Florence’s main railway station is Santa Maria Novella (SMN). Early arrival is possible subject to availability and by arrangement with Villa Pitiana; please contact the hotel directly.
Departure: Departure day is 05.04.2026.
- The final concert usually takes place in Palazzo Medici Riccardi in the magnificent Sala Luca Giordano (Galleria degli Specchi) (www.palazzomediciriccardi.it/) in central Florence on 05.04.2025 at approximately 11:00 and lasts about 2 hours.
- Please plan your departure so that you can attend the final concert.
- An extension of the stay at Villa Pitiana is generally possible until Tuesday, 07.04.2026, subject to availability and Appassionato special conditions. Please contact Villa Pitiana directly.
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Course and seminar fees
Registration fee:
- The registration fee is 60 Euro per participant/student. This fee is charged only once per participant, regardless of how many courses are booked. So if you take two or more courses, you pay the registration fee only once. The registration fee becomes due immediately after binding registration and is non-refundable, even in case of non-attendance/cancellation by the participant.
Masterclass fees:
For courses in piano / string and wind instruments / guitar / voice there are two participation and cost modalities:
- Module A:
- 415 Euro plus registration fee of 60 Euro per participant
- 7 teaching units of 45 minutes each per participant.
- Module B:
- 575 Euro plus registration fee of 60 Euro per participant
- 10 teaching units of 45 minutes each per participant.
(This module is recommended for participants who want to work on chamber music projects)
- Additional teaching units:
- Additional teaching units can be booked after consultation with management and the instructors; costs are 55 Euro per teaching unit.
Participants of Module B or those who wish additional lessons may stay until Tuesday, 07.04.2026 by arrangement with the organization and instructors.
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Seminar fees:
Participants who have already registered for Module A or B and additionally wish to participate in the seminars pay only 75 Euro per participant per seminar.
For participants who want to participate exclusively in the seminars by Francesca Canali, Dr. Yvonne Douthat Hartinger and Virgil Hartinger, the following costs apply:
- Francesca Canali Seminar: "Music from the Inside Out" - Sound, Body and Presence in Playing.
- 270 Euro plus registration fee of 60 Euro per participant for a 60-minute daily session.
- Dr. Ulrike Kienzle Seminar: "The Music of the Romanticism": a journey of discovery in words, images and sounds.
- 270 Euro plus registration fee of 60 Euro per participant for a 120-minute daily session.
- Vocal ensemble with Yvonne Douthat Hartinger and Virgil Hartinger:
- 370 Euro plus registration fee of 60 Euro per participant for a 90-minute daily session.
Chamber music and ensembles are taught by all instructors; it is important that participants inform the instructors as early as possible whether they wish to play in chamber music ensembles and, if so, which pieces they would like to perform.
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Program and Organization
Scheduled program for Saturday, 28.03.2026 / Arrival day:
- 19:00 - Welcome reception and reception in the Knight’s Hall at Villa Pitiana
- 19:30 - Dinner
Lecturer’s concert:
- The event begins with the lecturer concert on Sunday, 29.03.2026 at 21:00 in the newly renovated Teatro of the town Pontassieve; a bus transfer to the lecturer concert will be organized.
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Instruction:
The schedule for instruction is determined by the course director in coordination with the participants and instructors; individual practice is possible – practice rooms and practice pianos are available during the day.
Daily routine:
- 09:30 – 12:30: Instrumental instruction / ensemble and chamber music rehearsals
- 12:30 – 13:30: Lunch break
- 13:30 – 18:30: Instrumental instruction / ensemble and chamber music rehearsals
- 19:30: dinner (times may change according to the concerts that will take place in the Villa)
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Concerts:
During the courses, participants have the opportunity to perform their solo and chamber music programs in various concerts:
Planned concerts (subject to changes):
- Wednesday, 16.04., around 21:00
- Thursday, 17.04., around 21:00
- Friday, 18.04., around 21:00
- Saturday, 19.04., around 16:00
Final concert:
Sunday, 20.04., around 11:00 – duration: about 2 hours
The highlight of the course – the final concert – takes place at the impressive Palazzo Medici Riccardi in Florence.
Please plan your departure so that you can attend the final concert.
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Other program and offers:
- Wine tasting for adults at a winery or castle near Villa Pitiana for an additional fee (held on Wednesday). See registration form.
- Entrance tickets to state museums in Florence are free for pupils, students, and disabled persons.
- Adults can participate in the concurrent “Appassionato Fitness Week” for an additional fee (see www.appassionato.eu).
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Certificate:
Each participant receives a certificate of participation after the master course.
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Accommodation:
In cooperation with Appassionato-Musikmeisterkurse, the following prices apply for accommodation/overnight stays and half board (breakfast and dinner without drinks) at Villa Pitiana:
- Standard double room: 60 Euro per person per day
- Triple room: 55 Euro per person per day
- Single room on request for an additional 25 Euro per day
Please book the hotel using the booking form on our website directly with the hotel.
The link:
https://www.appassionato.eu/hotel-reservation-2026.html
Accommodation costs are paid directly to Villa Pitiana.
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Registration:
Registration for the master course must be made in writing via the registration form.
The deadline is 28.02.2026. The registration from is in both german and english language
The link to registration is:
https://www.appassionato.eu/anmeldung-musik-meisterkurse-2026.html
Course places are allocated after receipt of the registration and deposit of the course fee; there is no legal claim to participation.
If the amount is not paid by the start of the course, the organizer reserves the right to prohibit the lecturer from teaching that participant; the final decision on participation lies with the organizer.
Registration contact:
Mr. Raffaele Mani
Waldstraße 22
61389 Schmitten / Germany
Tel.: +49 – (0) 6082/4979919
Mobile: +49 – (0)157/83859202
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.appassionato.eu
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Participation conditions:
Participation in the seminars is only possible if a rehearsed program is already available and sufficient skills and knowledge for the desired instrument exist (please indicate desired or planned pieces on the registration form).
Participants who are not personally known to the instructors may be asked for an audio or video recording.
For participation in the “Vocal Ensemble” course, experience in choral singing is required.
Participants in courses for violin, cello, guitar, clarinet, recorder, and flute must bring their own instruments (rental is possible in various shops in Florence), as well as music stands and various accessories.
Pianos for participants in the piano course, accompaniment and chamber music, as well as for the voice course/vocal ensemble, are provided by the organization.
Registration for the seminars is via the registration form; more information at www.appassionato.eu.
A confirmation of acceptance for participation is sent after receipt of registration and payment of the participation fee.
Participation is not automatic upon receipt of the registration. Final decision on participation lies with the organizer.
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Cancellation of registration:
Registration deadline is 28.02.2026.
Three weeks before the start of the courses, cancellations are no longer possible and the entire participation fee for the seminars must be paid in full. A replacement participant can be named by the registered participant, but the organizer reserves the right to decide.
Payment and payment terms:
Upon binding registration (no later than 28.02.2026), both the registration fee (60 EUR) and the course fees must be paid; please note two separate charges – registration fee and course fees. If full payment is not received by the start of the course, this may lead to prohibition of instruction.
Bank details:
Raffaele Mani
Deutsche Bank Friedberg/Hessen
IBAN: DE47 5007 0024 0771 5394 60
SWIFT/BIC: DEUTDEDBFRA
Reference: Appassionato Musik 2026 + participant’s name
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Other provisions:
- Pandemic: In the event of a pandemic (e.g., Covid-19), Appassionato Musik reserves the right to cancel events or conduct them in another way. By registering, you accept these conditions. If a travel advisory to Italy is issued up to one week before the course start, all fees except the registration fee will be refunded. Reimbursement of travel costs is excluded.
Photos & videos: By registering, you agree that photos/videos may be taken during this event.
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Organizer and management
Appassionato is an in-house event of Raffaele Mani
- Idea & artistic direction: Raffaele Mani
- Organization & design: Oscar Schwarz
Patronage:
Comune di Reggello - Città metropolitana di Firenze - Comune di Pontassieve - Comune di Firenze
Instructors:
Raffaele Mani, Francesca Cardone, Almut Frenzel-Riehl, Francesca Canali, Zoé Cartier, Karen Tanaka, Alrun Pacher, Virgil Hartinger, Dr. Yvonne Douthat Hartinger, Elena Veronesi, Dr. Ulrike Kienzle
Accompaniment: Asako Uchimura
Liability
Liability by the organizer for physical, personal, or other damages to participants or their accompanying persons within the Meisterkurs program is excluded. This also applies to instruments brought along (we recommend obtaining appropriate insurance before travel). The organizer also does not assume liability for partial or complete program cancellations due to force majeure. In this case, the participant is entitled to a refund of the Meisterkurs fees; a refund of the registration fee is excluded.
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