The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Theatre: the season program

The best operas and concerts to mark in your diary until January 2026

The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Season: Unmissable Operas and World-Class Symphonic Concerts Through January 2026
Mark your calendars for all the events you won’t want to miss.

2026

A new double bill premieres on March 14 (with three performances): Bluebeard’s Castle by Béla Bartók and La voix humaine by Francis Poulenc, conducted by rising Hungarian maestro Martin Rajna and directed by Claus Guth, in a co-production with the Tiroler Festspiele Erl. The highly anticipated performance of Elle is sung by Anna Caterina Antonacci.

After the 88th Maggio Musicale Festival (April–July), The summer season opens with The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini, in the production by Damiano Michieletto, on stage on July 11, 14, and 18. A production dating back to 2005, characterized by freshness, irony, and modernity.

The opera season resumes in September with Wozzeck by Alban Berg, conducted by Thomas Guggeis and directed by Deborah Warner in a production from London’s Royal Opera House. The premiere is on September 27, followed by two more shows.

From October 23, the world premiere of Romanzo criminale—commissioned by Teatro del Maggio and Musica per Roma—brings Giancarlo De Cataldo’s best-selling novel to the stage. Music by Nicola Piovani (who will also conduct), libretto by De Cataldo, and direction by Massimo Popolizio, who also starred in the film adaptation. Sets by Margherita Palli, costumes by Silvia Aymonino, and lighting by Pasquale Mari.

Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra opens November 15, with three more performances. This new production is conducted by James Conlon and directed by Alex Ollé of La Fura dels Baus.

The opera season closes with Les contes d’Hoffmann by Jacques Offenbach, opening December 20, with performances on December 27 and 30, and concluding on January 2, 2027.

Concerts 2026

March 20: Soprano Jessica Pratt joins Christopher Franklin for an all-Mozart program, featuring arias and overtures from major operas.

March 28: Tomáš Netopil presents the full cycle of Smetana’s Má vlast, including The Moldau.

On July 13 and 25, a double appointment with Stefano Massini returns with Liberamente… sotto le stelle , is the result of his experience with the Scuola Popolare di Scrittura. The focus is the meeting of words and music in the Cavea del Maggio. The theme is “happiness” — and new imaginaries.

On July 16, the program features a special concert based on La bohème by Giacomo Puccini, an original project conceived by Paolo Fresu together with his Devil Quartet, made up of Fresu (trumpet and flugelhorn), Bebo Ferra(guitar), Paolino Dalla Porta (double bass), and Stefano Bagnoli (drums). They will perform with the Orchestra del Maggio conducted by Paolo Silvestri, who also created the arrangements.

On July 23, the summer season closes with a screening of For a Fistful of Dollars by Sergio Leone, with the score — composed by Ennio Morricone — performed live by the Orchestra and Chorus of the Maggio.

September 10: Drusilla Foer narrates Peter and the Wolf, conducted by Salvatore Percacciolo, alongside playful works by Rossini and Haydn.

September 13: Foer returns for a Hollywood film score concert with Timothy Brock, featuring music from King Kong, On the Waterfront, Sunset Boulevard, and songs by Kurt Weill.

October 2: Thomas Guggeis conducts Haydn’s Symphony No. 103 and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7.

November 21, December 9, 13, and 19: A four-part Mendelssohn cycle featuring symphonies and the oratorio Elijah, with soloists and the Maggio Chorus.

December 23: The year ends on a festive note with Gianandrea Noseda conducting the complete Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky, with the Maggio Orchestra and Children’s Choir.