Sgrìoban Dìomhair (Mystic Trails) at Suoni Controvento Festival 2025

I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of the prestigious *Suoni Controvento* Festival this summer. On 10 August, at the stunning Sasso Pecoraro in Costacciaro, I will perform *Sgrìoban Dìomhair* (*Mystic Trails*), a work born from my deep connection with nature and the landscapes of the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

This project began during a creative tour across Scotland, supported by Arts Council England, which sought to explore the bond between music, nature, and our shared responsibility for the environment. Inspired in part by the unlawful felling of the Sycamore Gap Tree, I set out on a 20-day residency, walking remote paths, recording the wind, the sea, and the wildlife, and composing in solitude amid dramatic mountains and rugged coasts. From Glasgow’s vibrant folk scene to the stillness of Cape Wrath, every step deepened my understanding of how sound can carry the memory of place.

*Music has a powerful ability to connect people with the places they live in.* By blending solo cello with the raw voices of the natural world, I hope to invite audiences to reflect not only on the beauty of our planet but also on the urgency of protecting it.

Performing this work at *Suoni Controvento* feels like a perfect continuation of that journey — bringing the spirit of Scotland’s wilderness to the green heart of Italy, and sharing a musical invitation to pause, listen, and reconnect with the world around us.

I cannot wait to see you there, and to share this adventure through sound and landscape.

🎟 Festival info:http://www.suonicontrovento.it

Riccardo Pes live at Suoni Controvento