January 20, 2025

What to do this week in Florence and surroundings

Events, exhibitions and highlights from 20 to 26 January 2025

Art, concerts, shows and good food. Here are the events not to be missed this week in and around Florence.

Alessia Tondo, Avi Avital, Giovanni Sollima and Giuseppe Copia in concert at the Teatro della Pergola

The Friends of Music are hosting a very special concert with great musicians Avi Avital (the first mandolin player nominated for a Grammy Award for classical music) and Giovanni Sollima (internationally renowned cellist and the most performed Italian composer in the world), Alessia Tondo (one of the most important voices on the Apulian music scene), Giuseppe Copia (theorbo and guitar, graduated with top marks in classical guitar from the Conservatory of Benevento). A fascinating journey through ancient folk music from the Sephardic, Salentine and Macedonian traditions, the cultured pages of Scarlatti and Frescobaldi, and compositions by Sollima himself.

Officina Bardini: l’arte del legno

During the months of January and February, the Museo Stefano Bardini will host meetings dedicated to an in-depth study of the art of woodworking and restoration, with a special focus on the craftsmanship tradition of the workshops of Stefano and Ugo Bardini. This series of appointments is part of the exhibition Officina Bardini: the art of wood (until 24 February). On 2 February, at 11.30 a.m., space will be given to Il design e l'artigiano (Design and the craftsman) with Giuseppe Lotti and Carlo Francini, moderated by Valentina Zucchi, on the challenges and opportunities of design and craftsmanship between history and contemporaneity, illustrating how wooden objects of extraordinary workmanship took shape in the Bardini carpentry workshop, capable of responding to the eclectic taste of the buyers of the time. On 16 February, Bruno Botticelli and Carlo Francini, moderated by Marco Mozzo, will take the public on a journey through the history of the antique furniture market with Il mobile antiquario (The Antique Furniture), dwelling on the fascination of Renaissance and Baroque furniture, narrated with the expertise of those who have lived and worked in the world of antiques for over forty years. All meetings, which will take place in the Sala della Carità, are free of charge with compulsory booking and last approximately 50 minutes. For information and reservations, please contact MUS.E at info@musefirenze.it or at 055 2768224. Access to the museum tour is not included.

Sarabanda, Roberto Andò's show at the Pergola Theatre

Sarabanda, Ingmar Bergman's last film, comes to the theatre with Renato Carpentieri, Alvia Reale, Elia Schilton and Caterina Tieghi, directed by Roberto Andò, on the stage of the Teatro della Pergola from 21 to 26 January.

Avec le temps Dalida, the show with Maria Letizia Gorga at the Puccini Theatre

On Thursday 23 January, at 9 p.m., Maria Letizia Gorga stars in the show Avec le temps Dalida, written and directed by Pino Ammendola, at the Teatro Puccini, accompanied by musicians: on piano Stefano De Meo; on cello Laura Pierazzuoli; on clarinets Pasquale Laino; with arrangements by Stefano De Meo.

Bruna Balera, Alessandro Riccio and Alberto Becucci at Renny Club

On Friday 24 January, at 9 p.m., at the Renny Club Bruna finally returns to sing for the musical show Bruna Balera, and she does so accompanied by the trusty Franchino on accordion and the small orchestrina of I Ganzi. Protagonists: Alessandro Riccio and Alberto Becucci (accordion, piano, guitar) and ‘I ganzi della Bruna’ Timoteo Grignani (drums, percussion) and Gabriele Stoppa (guitar, banjo, vibraphone).

Il minotauro, Valentina Chico's show at the Laboratorio del Teatro Puccini

On Friday 24 January, at 6 and 9.30 p.m., Valentina Chico's play Il minotauro (The Minotaur), a ballad by Friedrich Durrenmatt with sounds and music by Katia Pesti, will be on stage at the Laboratorio del Teatro Puccini.

An/Archive Event Two: blue r/evolution at Polimoda Manifattura Campus

Polimoda inaugurated at Pitti Uomo 107 An/Archive Event Two: blue r/evolution, the exhibition project dedicated to the evolution of blue, symbol of social change and personal authenticity. Open to the public until 15 February, at the Polimoda Manifattura Campus, the exhibition project is conceived as a cultural space open to the city and invites visitors to reflect on the relationship between workwear, identity, crisis and revolution, exploring the most topical themes of the contemporary scene through art installations, talks and iconic pieces, the thematic exploration investigates the role of workwear and denim, between historical memory and future vision.

Ottantanove, Marco Cavalcoli, Elvira Frosini and Daniele Timpano at Teatro Puccini

On Friday 24 January, at 9 p.m., at the Teatro Puccini, the show Ottantanove with Marco Cavalcoli, Elvira Frosini and Daniele Timpano, dramaturgy and direction by Elvira Frosini and Daniele Timpano with the artistic collaboration of David Lescot, will be staged.

Ma cosa ha in testa? with Fabio Canino and Andrea Muzzi at Teatro Puccini

Fabio Canino and Andrea Muzzi star in the play Ma cosa ha in testa? by Andrea Muzzi, directed by Stefano Messina, at the Teatro Puccini. (Due to organisational reasons, the show has been moved to Wednesday 22 January at 9 pm. Tickets already purchased remain valid. Those who will not be able to attend the new date can request a refund by 14 January).

Jaume Santonja and Kerson Leong at Teatro Verdi

On Wednesday 22 January, at 9 p.m., at the Teatro Verdi, Jaume Santonja returns to conduct the Orchestra della Toscana with the overwhelming virtuosity of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, played by Canadian maestro Kerson Leong. This is followed by Schubert's Sinfonia Tragica. Opening will be the first performance of the ORT commission to Annachiara Gedda. Debut in Piombino on Monday 20 January, repeated in La Spezia (21) and Figline (23).

Omini piccini, the show for children and families by Venti Lucenti at the Teatro Verdi

Saturday 25 January, at 4.30 p.m., at the Teatro Verdi a new appointment with the review Tutti al Teatro Verdi! conceived for children and their families. On stage Omini piccini, the new production by Venti Lucenti signed by Manu Lalli. The show will be repeated on 1 February in Pisa and 21 February in Figline Incisa. Matinees for schools are planned.

Age Pride, the show with Alessandra Faiella at the Puccini Theatre

Saturday 25 January, at 9 p.m., Alessandra Faiella stars in the play Age Pride, directed by Emanuela Giordano, based on the book Age Pride by Lidia Ravera , at the Teatro Puccini with Francesca Ruffilli on cello.

La Fabbrica delle Parole, the Teatro Popolare d'Arte company at the Puccini

On Sunday 26 January, at 4.45 p.m., the Teatro Popolare d'Arte company will stage the show for children and families La Fabbrica delle Parole (The Factory of Words), directed by Irene Paoletti and Gianfranco Pedullà, freely inspired by La grande fabbrica delle parole (The Great Factory of Words) by Agnès de Lestrade and Valeria Docampo, with Elisa Bartoli, Benedetta Rustici, Irene Paoletti and Pablo Torregiani, at the Teatro Puccini.