Olympia

Olympia is a symphonic poem in four movements, tracing the birth, journey and ascent of the Olympic flame.

Composed by Roberto Cacciapaglia for the most symbolic moment of the Opening Ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, ‘Olympia’ is a contemporary symphonic work conceived to accompany this collective ritual. Through piano, orchestra, voice and electronics, the music follows the passage and the rising of the Olympic flame, leading to its lighting and final celebration. Performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, Olympia brings together symphonic writing and a contemplative vision, in dialogue with the original values of the Olympic Games.

“When I began working on ‘Olympia’, I immediately thought of a musical composition capable of sustaining the most important, celebratory and symbolic moment of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Opening Ceremony,” says Roberto Cacciapaglia. “In ‘Olympia’, I felt a deep a ffi nity with the original meaning of the Olympic Games. In ancient times, the Games brought wars and con fl icts to a halt through the «Olympic Truce» . In a dark and tragic era such as the one we are living in today, music can still celebrate what is highest in human beings: the ability to listen, to share, and to walk together towards the future. In peace.”