SOCIETA' MANDOLINISTICA
ESTUDIANTINA VOGHERESE

Via Covini n. 30
27058 VOGHERA PV

THE ESTUDIANTINA

The Mandolinistic Estudiantina Orchestra of Voghera in 1948

After a period of forced interruption due to the war, some orchestrals, some members of  the  Mandolinistic and Chitarrista Society “La Favorita” and of the “C. Manzotti Group” together ten students, met to play in the library, of the Barnabiti Friars’ theater in Garibaldi street, Voghera.

These friends played dance tunes and popular music, and they had neither program nor particular projects about the future: they only met to spend some pleasant evenings together playing good music.

When master Nando Cucchi knew that some mandolin players were active at the Barnabiti’s theatre, he decided to meet them in order to listen to them playing.

Everyone in the group was glad to play for master Cucchi and one of them, Mario Castagnola, purposed to found a new mandolinistic group. Everyone agreed with the proposal and after the performance for master Cucchi all the players laid the foundations of the so called

“Mandolinistic Estudiantina Vogherese Society”: it was November 14^th 1947.

Why did they choose the name “Estudiantina”? Where does this name come from?

It refers to a waltz written by P. J. Lancôme.

The musicians had their first concert on 21^st january 1948 at the Mental Hospital in Voghera. It was the first of a long series of concerts wich took place from then until 1998. During about fifty years of concerts the “Estudiantina” played music of Verdi, Rossini, Puccini, Bellini, Wagner Schubert and many others.

The “Mandolinistic Estudiantina” got great success during the years. It realized two concerts recordings for the RAI in 1950; on January 26th 1972 the group played a memorable concert  at the theatre in Delle Erbe Steet in Milan, and on September 24^th 1978 the orchestra performed at the Verdi’s Theatre in Busseto.

In 1995 the “Estudiantina” had to stop its activity because of the many defections, but the Society went on in order to keep the mandolinistic tradition alive in Voghera.

Constancy and care were rewarded in spring 2001, when the “Mandolinistic Estudiantina” started to perform again thanks to the introduction of new elements.

Today rehersal and concerts take place to satisfy all those who love this wonderful instrument.

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