This annual opera festival founded in 1933 comprises one of the oldest musical events in Italy and one of the most prestigious in the European Union. It takes place in the “Teatro Comunale“, the centre of musical life in the Tuscan capital, and will be celebrating its 74th edition from the 1st of May to the 30th of June this summer in Florence.
Maggio Musicale 2011
The Maggio Musicale, the city’s major arts festival attracts an abundance of visitors to the “Teatro Comunale”, originally an open-air theatre, every year. This is mainly thanks to the musicians and performers that triumph on the stage at this musical event on a yearly basis. The music festival programme features concerts by the Orchestra Regionale Toscano, dance including ballet performances and the presence of some of the best singers, composers and conductors such as “Divina” Callas, Pietro Mascagni, Richard Strauss, Vittorio Gui, and Bruno Walter. The legendary Luciano Pavarotti was amongst those that have performed in previous editions of the Maggio Musicale, Florence. Famous film-makers, painters and sculptors of such stature as Max Reinhardt, Gustav Gründgens and Luchino Visconti, amongst others have also been called upon as set and costume designers.
It is particularly pleasant in fine weather as the various performances from the legendary dance, music and theatre artists are set outside in the beautiful and splendid Boboli Gardens or in the charming Signoria’s Square. This is a great opportunity to see some of the world’s finest artists perform in this beautiful theatre, so what better than staying in a Florence apartment so you can fully enjoy these musical events.
Practical information
Dates: 1st of May to the 30th of June. Consult website for further information on performance times.
Where: Teatro del Maggio Fiorentino Fondazione, Florence (Firenze), Italy
Address: Via Solferino, 15, 50123 Firenze, Italia
Directions: By train, Santa Maria Novella station. It takes 10 minutes to get to the theatre on foot.from the train station. You can also catch the tram or take a taxi (a taxi stop is right outside the SMN station). By tram: T1, Porta al Prato-Leopolda stop. Taxi, call +39 055 4242 – +39 055 4390 – 055 4698.
