2026 marks the centenary of the birth of Lady Susana Walton, a woman of extraordinary charisma, a patron, a creative soul, and the guardian of one of the most enchanting places in the Mediterranean: the La Mortella Gardens in Forio. Born in Argentina in 1926, Susana Gil Passo met and married the English composer Sir William Walton in 1948. Together, they chose Ischia as their refuge and home. Here, with the help of renowned landscape architect Russell Page, Susana embarked on a lifelong project: creating a magnificent garden, a source of inspiration for the composer, into which he could pour his creativity, his love of plants, and his artistic sensibility.
After her husband's passing, Lady Walton devoted all her energies to caring for and enhancing La Mortella, transforming it into a place not only of extraordinary beauty but also a vibrant cultural center with music at its heart. Today, the William Walton Foundation and La Mortella, which she strongly supported, continues to preserve her spirit, welcoming over 90,000 visitors a year and hosting concerts, masterclasses, conferences, and botanical initiatives that keep her vision alive.
To celebrate the centenary of Lady Walton's birth, the William Walton Foundation has promoted a major commemorative project: a year-long series of events, taking place in Italy and England, dedicated to the memory, art, and cultural legacy of a woman who left her mark on both the worlds of nature and music.
TRIBUTES:
Susana was renowned for her incredible sense of style, wit and panache and her love of colour and artistry in all things. Here, some of her favourite designer collaborators pay tribute and share their personal memories of her. 
Annual Programme Highlights
Programme in the United Kingdom:
- Manchester (Chetham’s School of Music, 12–13 February): Two days of concerts dedicated to Walton, including Argentine and botanical-themed repertoire, culminating in a performance of Walton’s First Symphony
- Bury St Edmunds (12–14 June): “Walton Weekend” within the Bury Music Festival
- London (24 July): Walton Cello Concerto at the BBC Proms, performed by the orchestra Sinfonia of London at the Royal Albert Hall and broadcast on BBC Radio 3
- Museum of Garden History, London (22 September): Conference on garden design featuring Russell Page’s drawings and a guitar recital of Walton’s Bagatelles
- Additional conferences and concerts in Norfolk, the Lake District Festival, and Sandringham.
Cultural and Academic Program in Italy:
A series of conferences on Lady Walton’s legacy, curated by the Trust's President Alessandra Vinciguerra, will be held across Italy and abroad. These events will be hosted in prestigious venues, including museums, historic residences, botanical gardens, and cultural festivals dedicated to landscape and heritage.
The Foundation’s Kepos Project, a programme of cultural lectures, will focus on the historical evolution of gardens, offering a wide-ranging exploration of garden styles and themes, while also discussing music history.
Artistic Installations.
Within the Giardini La Mortella, the site-specific installation by M. Catuogno, L’Intuizione dell’Amore, guides visitors on a journey to discover the garden’s sources of inspiration. Plaques set into the rocks, accompanied by myrtle plants (mortella in the local dialect), present quotations by Lady Walton and her key influences, evoking the ideas that gave rise to the landscape.
Musical Programme.
Music remains the backbone of the anniversary’s celebrations at La Mortella:
- All concert seasons will include works by William Walton; for example, the Incontri Musicali chamber music performance series, which showcases young musicians from leading Italian and international conservatories, will feature pieces from Façade for piano four hands.
- This summer, international youth orchestras' performances at the Greek Theatre will include programs dedicated to Walton and tributes to Lady Walton, such as a special performance by the SJSS Orchestra of London of Padma Newsome's "The Creatures in Lady Walton's Garden."
- A major concert will take place in Rome on 8 November at Teatro Palladium, featuring Orchestra Roma Tre in collaboration with the Accademia Filarmonica Romana, with music by William Walton and the suite Lady Walton’s Garden by R. Molinelli.
- A new production of Façade will also be staged in Naples in collaboration with Associazione Scarlatti.
Publications and Educational Initiatives:
- A new bilingual edition of Lady Walton’s book An Italian Garden Paradise (2001), updated with critical notes and contemporary photography .
- The Publication of The Story of William and Susana, a biography by Michael Ashton.
- An educational book on Lady Walton’s life (Green Care School series) will be distributed to over 5,000 primary school students in Naples and Ischia.
Special Events:
On 21 August (nearing Lady Walton’s birthday) a tango evening will be hosted in Ischia, celebrating Walton’s Argentine heritage with an open milonga.