Festival of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

From 22 April to 8 July the 85th edition of the opera festival in Florence. Discover the programme

Three operas, 8 symphonic appointments, 1 rock concert, an opera for children dedicated to Carmen (from 1 to 7 June) and an international conference on Maria Callas: the 85th Maggio Musicale Fiorentino festival presents the programme of its new edition, which will take place from 22 April to 8 July 2023. But do you know why it is called Maggio Musicale? Find out here!

Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino © Michele Monasta-Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

INAUGURATION AND EVENTS

• On Saturday, April 22, principal conductor Daniele Gatti opens with a symphonic concert featuring pages by Richard Wagner, followed by Richard Strauss' symphonic poem Ein Heldenleben (Hero's Life), dedicated to the idealized figure of the hero at the height of his powers and ready to overcome any obstacle, which turns out to be an autobiographical portrait of the author himself.
  

• On Sunday 23 April, Florence will be 'invaded' by the music of Tuscan bands. The bands' performances will be held in various squares in the city centre; at sunset the bands will gather in Piazza Vittorio Gui, in front of the Teatro del Maggio, for a pyrotechnic musical finale.
  

• Saturday 17 June will see the debut of an extraordinary concert by the Orchestra del Maggio at the Visarno Arena with one of the historic British rock bands, The Who, in the only Italian leg of their tour The Who-Hits back! Tickets for this concert are available at Firenze Rocks.
  

• The traditional concert offered to the city by the Orchestra and Choir of the Maggio Musicale is confirmed again this year, in mid-July.

Marco Salvadori (Primo oboe dell'Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino)

LIRICA

• The first operatic title of the 85th Festival is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Don Giovanni, which will be staged starting on 30 April with repeats on 3, 6, 9 12 May . Maestro Zubin Mehta will conduct and David Pountney will direct.

• The second opera title is Verdi's Otello, revived in 2020, when it was staged and broadcast live by Rai Cultura for Rai5. Performances are scheduled on 20, 23, 26, 31 May and 3 June. The direction is by Valerio Binasco and Zubin Mehta returns on the podium.

• Closing the 85th Festival's opera programming is Verdi's highly anticipated Falstaff, on the podium Daniele Gatti with direction by Sven-Eric Bechtolf, sets by Julian Crouch, costumes by Kevin Pollard. Performances on the bill are June 22, 27, July 1, 4, 7.

The choir and orchestra will be engaged in three months of programming with Zubin Mehta and Daniele Gatti, musical director of the Maggio.

SINFONICA

• The opening concert on April 22, is conducted by Daniele Gatti and opens with Paul Hindemith's Nobilissima Vision. This is followed by the symphonic poem Ein Heldenleben (Life of a Hero) by Richard Strauss.

• The concert conducted by Zubin Mehta on April 29 features Gustav Mahler's grand Symphony No. 2.

• The May 5 concert conducted by Myung-Whun Chung is all about Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 and and Symphony No. 3 'Eroica'

• On May 10 Daniele Gatti to conduct the Maggio Chorus and Orchestra in a sumptuous program of symphonies, ballets and choruses by Giuseppe Verdi.

• On May 19 Diego Ceretta conducts Elgar's Concerto for Cello and Orchestra Op. 85, followed by Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 'From the New World.'

• We find Beethoven again in the May 25 concert conducted by Zubin Mehta. Opening with Concerto No. 5 'Emperor' for piano and orchestra - soloist Andrea Lucchesini - and Symphony No. 7 deemed by Wagner 'the apotheosis of dance.

• June 10 appointment with the Orchestra Giovanile Italiana conducted by Daniele Giorgi
  June 22, June 28, and July 1 at 8 p.m. in Mehta Hall Daniele Gatti tackling for the first time the complete symphonies of Tchaikovsky in three concerts.

• The Festival's latest event, conducted by Daniele Gatti, will layout famous compositions by Mozart and Berlioz.

THE UNMISSABLES

1. Sunday 23 May The final concert of the Tuscan bands at sunset in front of the theatre (free of charge).

2. 30 April, 3, 6, 9 12 May Mozart's Don Giovanni, conducted by Zubin Mehta
   5 May Beethoven's Symphony No. 2 and Symphony No. 3 'Eroica' conducted by Myung-Whun Chung.

3. On 19 May, Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 'From the New World' conducted by Andrés Orozco-Estrada.

4. On 17 June the Orchestra del Maggio, at the Visarno Arena in concert with The Who, in the only Italian leg of their tour The Who-Hits back!

5. On 22, 27 June, 1, 4, 7 July Wagner's monumental opera Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (The Master Singers of Nuremberg) conducted by Daniele Gatti

6. In mid-July the free concert offered to the city.