On Saturday, September 12, the Egyptian Museum of Turin will open its doors until midnight for a special White Night of culture and music. From 20:24 PM to midnight, admission is free and no reservations are required: a unique opportunity to wander the museum's halls in a different atmosphere and encounter, in the heart of Turin's evening, one of history's most fascinating civilizations. The initiative coincides with the reopening of Via Roma and is part of a program of festivities that will enliven the center of Turin with open shops, cultural events, music, and initiatives in the streets and museums. The Egyptian Museum will also participate in the city's celebration, transforming a visit to its collections for one night into an experience that combines archaeology, art, and entertainment.
One of the most anticipated moments will be at 9:30 pm, in the "Materia. Forma del tempo" space, where a jazz blitz organized in collaboration with the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Turin is scheduled. The performance, titled "Pas de Duo," will feature Carlotta Maggia on flute and Valentino Voster on guitar, with the participation of the Chamber Music School led by Francesca Gosio. The repertoire will take the audience through different eras and musical styles, with music ranging from Béla Bartók and Manuel de Falla to Celso Machado and Astor Piazzolla.
A record-breaking museum
The White Night is also an opportunity to rediscover some curiosities related to the Egyptian Museum. The Turin Museum is not simply one of the most important international Egyptology museums: it is the oldest museum in the world entirely dedicated to Egyptian culture. Its foundation dates back to 1824, when King Charles Felix purchased the large collection of antiquities assembled by Bernardino Drovetti. The museum opened to the public in 1832. Today, its collection comprises approximately 40 artifacts, testimony to millennia of history. This heritage has also grown enormously thanks to the archaeological campaigns conducted in Egypt by Ernesto Schiaparelli and Giulio Farina between 1903 and 1937, which brought approximately 30 artifacts to Turin.
Among the most surprising features is the Temple of Ellesiya, a true New Kingdom rock temple. It was donated to Italy by Egypt in recognition of Italy's contribution to the major international operation to save the Nubian monuments threatened by floodwaters following the construction of the Aswan Dam. In 1970, it was reassembled inside the Egyptian Museum. But perhaps the true magic of the White Night lies elsewhere. While Turin continues to thrive outside amid lights, music, and people, inside the museum, time will seem to slow down. Among statues of pharaohs, papyrus, and objects belonging to men and women who lived thousands of years ago, the notes of a flute and a guitar will drift through the rooms, creating an unexpected bridge between past and present.
For one night, ancient Egypt will not just be something to be observed behind a glass window but will once again enter into a dialogue with our time.
