Fenogliana Marathon: The Partisan Johnny

Now in its sixteenth edition, the Maratona Fenogliana 2026 “La Terra, la Guerra, Una Questione Privata. Aspettando i CSI” is a true journey in stages through music, writing, cinema, and distinguished guests among the hills of Langhe and Monferrato, guided by the words of Beppe Fenoglio.

The Maratona Fenogliana 2026

The project is supported by the Municipality of Alba and organized by the Centro Studi Beppe Fenoglio ETS, in collaboration with the Portami Via Festival, the municipalities and associations involved in the various stages.

The project draws inspiration from the celebrated album La terra, la guerra, una questione privata, born from the recording of the concert that the Consorzio Suonatori Indipendenti (CSI) dedicated to Beppe Fenoglio in 1996. Thirty years after that experience, the Maratona returns with a journey of itinerant readings through Fenoglio’s places and atmospheres.

The events fall close to the anniversary of September 8, 1943, the date that marks the beginning of the War of Liberation from Nazi-Fascism in Italy. This offers an occasion to listen once more to Fenoglio’s words and reflect on the memory of the Resistance through a collective narrative.

Johnny the Partisan

On Sunday, September 6 at 5:00 PM, the Marathon returns to Valle Tanaro, to Alba: the city of the Partisan Johnny, free for twenty-three days during the Nazi-Fascist occupation.

Here, in March 1996 inside the Church of San Domenico, the CSI concert was held in memory of Beppe Fenoglio, an evening that remained in the hearts of the citizens and was later captured in the live album La terra, la guerra, una questione privata.

For this stop, the shared reading of the posthumous work Il Partigiano Johnny will take place at the Liceo Classico Giuseppe Govone, attended by Fenoglio himself.