This evening, Saturday 9 May, at 9.00 p.m., Teatro Paisiello in Lecce hosts Psiche Mediterranea, featuring Emanuele Trevi and Valter Malosti, accompanied by live music by Andrea Cauduro, as part of FESTIVAL DEL MEDITERRANEO TRECCANI 2026.

Conceived as a staged lecture, the performance brings together literature, theatrical interpretation and live music to reveal the enduring power of the myth of Cupid and Psyche, one of the most compelling and universal narratives of the ancient world.

Far more than a fairy tale, the story of Psyche becomes a reflection on the cosmos and the human spirit—an exploration of individual destiny and the passions of the soul that transcends time and continues to engage with the philosophical thought of classical antiquity.

The narrative will be brought to life by Emanuele Trevi, writer, literary critic and recipient of the 2021 Premio Strega, together with Valter Malosti, theatre director, actor and visual artist. Although immortalised by Apuleius in The Golden Ass, the story has its origins in a much older oral tradition that travelled across the Mediterranean, evolving through generations of storytellers.

Throughout the evening, Andrea Cauduro's live musical performance will provide an evocative soundscape, enhancing the emotional depth and resonance of the spoken word.

The Festival continues tomorrow, Sunday 10 May, at 7.00 p.m., at the Complesso degli Agostiniani, with Mediterraneo: un mare di donne tra passaggi e narrazioni, a lecture by Emanuela Bufacchi exploring women's voices, literary imagination and stories of journeys across the Mediterranean, presenting the sea as a place of memory, transformation and encounter.

Together, the two events engage in dialogue with the Festival Treccani della Lingua Italiana, expanding its cultural programme while bringing stories, myths and narratives back to the heart of a Mediterranean whose traditions continue to cross borders, connect cultures and inspire new interpretations.

FESTIVAL DEL MEDITERRANEO TRECCANI 2026, curated by Fondazione Treccani Cultura ETS, forms part of the 9th Festival Treccani della Lingua Italiana, taking place in Lecce from 8 to 10 May 2026 and dedicated this year to the theme of "dialogue".

The initiative is included in the programme of Armonie del Mediterraneo – Viaggi, Miti e Ritorni, conceived and promoted by the Euromediterranean Cultural Heritage Agency in partnership with the Municipality of Lecce, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Tourism through the National Tourism Fund (FUNT) – Current Expenditure Programme 2025 (CUP F89I25002020001).

Admission is free, subject to venue capacity.