There’s a different way to experience Lake Orta: by letting music set the pace. That’s the idea behind Noon Concerts, a festival that transforms historic churches, elegant villas, lakeside gardens and some of the area’s most iconic landmarks into remarkable concert venues. Best of all, every performance is free, offering the chance to enjoy live music in some of the lake’s most enchanting settings.

Running from 16 to 27 August, the festival presents a rich programme spanning centuries, styles and musical traditions. It opens in Corconio with an inspired dialogue between Johann Sebastian Bach and George Gershwin, brought to life by vocalist and accordionist Sara Moretti alongside Roberto Fuccelli. Their performance bridges two seemingly distant musical worlds, highlighting the universal language that connects them.

The following day, the spectacular Sacro Monte of Orta San Giulio provides the backdrop for a string trio performing works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. Here, the setting is as memorable as the music itself, with panoramic views adding another layer to the experience.

Literature also takes centre stage with a conference dedicated to Ernesto Ragazzoni, followed by one of the festival’s most distinctive events at the atmospheric Casa Tallone on the Island of San Giulio. I bevitori di suoni e di stelle (The Drinkers of Sounds and Stars) is a contemporary melologue that blends spoken word, piano and electric guitar in a compelling conversation between poetry and music.

Jazz enthusiasts won’t want to miss the performance at La Finestra sul Lago in San Maurizio d’Opaglio, where Claudio Guida, Marcello Testa and Lorenzo Erra trace the evolution of jazz from its blues roots to its vibrant modern sound, with a performance driven by improvisation and infectious energy.

Another festival highlight is the screening of F. W. Murnau’s silent masterpiece Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927), accompanied by a live musical score. It’s a rare opportunity to experience cinema as audiences did a century ago, when live musicians gave silent films their emotional voice.

The closing concerts return to the intimacy of chamber music. The Church of San Bernardino hosts a programme for mezzo-soprano and guitar featuring works by Franz Schubert and Federico García Lorca, before the festival concludes at the Sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso with a harpsichord recital celebrating Girolamo Frescobaldi, Domenico Paradisi and Johann Sebastian Bach.

More than a music festival, Concerti di Mezzogiorno is an invitation to discover Lake Orta at a slower pace. Each concert offers a reason to explore its historic villages, panoramic sanctuaries and the timeless beauty of the Island of San Giulio, where music and landscape come together in unforgettable ways.

Admission is free and events are open to all ages, although advance booking is recommended. For anyone looking to experience Lake Orta beyond the usual itinerary, this festival offers a memorable blend of music, culture and extraordinary scenery.