May 6, 2024

What to do this week in Florence and surroundings

Events, exhibitions and must-see events from 6 to 12 May

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

A PROCESSION TO COMMEMORATE THE INAUGURATION OF THE HISTORIC CENTRAL MARKET 150 YEARS AFTER ITS BIRTH

A historical procession starting from Piazza della Signoria and reaching the historic Central Market along 150 years of history. On 11 May, the procession starts at 11.00 a.m. from Piazza della Signoria and then passes through Via dei Calzaiuoli, Piazza San Giovanni, Borgo San Lorenzo, Piazza San Lorenzo, Via dell'Ariento to arrive at the Historic Central Market where there is a ribbon-cutting ceremony, just as it happened in 1874 at the inauguration. Florence finds itself catapulted back to 1874 with a historical procession in Garibaldian garb, organised by the Sbandieratori e Musici della Signoria association, recalling the walks that accompanied families to the market and, of course, the ever-present Gonfalone.

PESSOA. SINCE I'VE BEEN ME BY ROBERT WILSON AT THE PERGOLA THEATRE

Until 12 May, at 9 p.m., at the Teatro della Pergola in Florence, the world premiere of the play "essoa. Since I Have Been Me from texts by Fernando Pessoa, dramaturgically written by Darryl Pinckney and directed by Robert Wilson. Cast: Aline Belibi, Maria de Medeiros, Rodrigo Ferreira, Klaus Martini, Sofia Menci, Gianfranco Poddighe and Janaina Suaudeau. Robert Wilson enthusiastically welcomed the idea of a show dedicated to Pessoa launched by the Teatro della Pergola in Florence and the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris, and the Pergola has already hosted the first phase of rehearsals in January. The performance is in English, Portuguese, French and Italian, idioms also reflected by the different origins of the cast.

OPENING OF THE IRIS

The Iris Garden at Piazzale Michelangelo opens until 20 May. Some 3000 varieties of irises from all over the world bloom in the over two hectares of land.

86TH MAGGIO MUSICALE FIORENTINO

On 14, 15 and 18 May, the eagerly awaited debut of Jeanne Dark, the opera commissioned by the theatre from Fabio Vacchi, while Alessandro Cadario is conducting and concertmaster of the Contempoartensable. Concerts on 12 May, at 5 p.m., one of the world's most prestigious orchestras, the Wiener Philharmoniker, led by maestro Riccardo Muti in Schubert's Symphony No. 9 in C major.

SUMMERTIME MENÙ EVENT AL CIBRÈO RISTORANTE & COCKTAIL BAR

On Friday 10 May, Cibrèo Ristorante & Cocktail Bar presents a preview of its summer menu with an event designed to enhance a new philosophy of dishes and cuisine. The menu includes Il Pomodoro, Pe-pe-ro-ne, Timballo al Pesto, Ceci in Inzimino, Il Mare in Tavola and La Tarte Tatin. All information here.

MICHELE ZARRILLO IN CONCERT AT THE TEATRO VERDI

On Friday 10 May, at 8.45 p.m., the stage of the Teatro Verdi will host Michele Zarrillo in concert with one of the dates of his Cinque giorni da 30 anni (Five Days for 30 Years) tour, which will take him around Italy's main cities throughout 2024, to celebrate the three decades of an evergreen that never ceases to conquer entire audiences and generations.

BAROQUE FESTIVAL FLORENCE

Until June 30, the eighth edition of Baroque Festival Florence, the only Baroque music festival in Florence, comes to life. 16 concerts with internationally renowned musicians, in a place of great artistic value normally closed to the public: the Sala Capitolare of Santa Felicita, with frescoes of the Giotto school, as well as in other places of great historical-artistic interest in Florence, such as the Church of Santa Felicita, and the Marucelliana Library; two will be outdoors in the cloister of Santa Felicita (in case of rain, they will pass in the adjoining Sala Capitolare). Among the concerts not to be missed: Friday, May 3, 9 p.m. Sala capitolare di Santa Felicita Johann Sebastian Bach: Italian Style, German Style. Wednesday, May 8, 9 p.m. Sala capitolare di Santa Felicita Divine beauties. Neapolitan motets for solo voice and continuo. Wednesday, May 29, 9 p.m. - Admission free of charge - Church of Santa Felicita The Golden Age of the Baroque Trumpet, from Fantini to Händel. Friday, June 28, 6 p.m. - Admission free of charge -Biblioteca Marucelliana, Florence The golden age of the mandolin in Florence.

ORCHESTRA OF TUSCANY IN CONCERT WITH HOSSEIN PISHKAR AND ARSENII MOON

On Thursday 9 May, at 9 p.m., the Teatro Verdi will host a concert by the ORT - Orchestra della Toscana conducted by Hossein Pishkar with Arsenii Moon at the piano.

STEFANIA TALLINI IN CONCERT ON THE BELVEDERE OF THE BARDINI GARDEN

Sunday 12 May, at 6 p.m., the debut of Musicus Concentus' I Poeti del Piano Solo festival at the Terrazza Belvedere of the Giardino Bardini, in via de' Bardi, with a concert by Stefania Tallini: one of the most appreciated jazz pianists and composers.

LA TRAVIATA IN IMMERSIVE VERSION AT THE CATHEDRAL OF THE IMAGE

The Cathedral of the Image hosts every Thursday at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., until Sept. 26, the world's most performed opera La Traviata, for the first time in an unprecedented immersive, semi-staged version produced by Opera Laboratori, Sillabe Editore, Modigliani Productions and Crossmedia. A narrator, Paolo Noseda, accompanies the audience (in Italian and English) through the most poignant love story of all time.

CELESTIAL DIALOGUES: PLANETARIUM MEETINGS

In the dome of the Digital Planetarium of the Science and Technology Foundation in Florence, the rich program of meetings continues, which for six Wednesdays, at 9 p.m., allow visitors to learn more about the Universe. Astrophysicists guide the visitor's gaze in space and time through astronomy, astrophysics, history, literature, and music, to bring an audience of young people and adults closer to the knowledge of the Heavens, with the illustration of the most recent scientific discoveries, in an unprecedented and multidisciplinary perspective. Wednesday, May 22 at 9 p.m. Ruggero Stanga presents additional methods of observing the Universe that Physics provides. On Wednesday, June 5 at 9 p.m., Alessandro Marconi in the meeting ELT and ANDES: new frontiers of optical and infrared astronomy, and finally, on Wednesday, June 19 at 9 p.m., astrophysicist Emiliano Ricci journalist and science author in the meeting Harmonic Spheres: a journey between astronomy and music.

OMER KLEIN IN CONCERT AT FLORENCE'S CATHEDRAL OPERA MUSEUM

On Thursday, May 9, the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo will host the inaugural concert of "I Poeti del Piano Solo," the Festival dedicated to the emotions of the piano in purity, Omer Klein's concert, on his only Italian date, in the Sala del Paradiso. Admission is free with mandatory reservations from 9 a.m. Thursday, May 2, at the following link: https://duomo.firenze.it/it/eventi/11109/omer-klein-in-concerto-nel-museo-dell-opera-del-duomo. The event is streamed live on the You Tube channel of the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore.

MINI CRUISE ON THE ARNO WITH ARNOBOAT

After the success of last season, Arnoboat, the mini-cruise on the Arno inspired by the Parisian model, returns to ply the waters of the city. This year the environmentally friendly electric boat will depart from its usual mooring point in Via Lungarno Diaz (height Piazza Mentana). The 2024 Arnoboat season runs until Monday 30 September.

INCANTI, THE ILLUSIONISTIC SHOW AT THE PUCCINI THEATRE

On Tuesday 7 May, at 9 p.m., Officine dell'incanto presents the illusionistic show Incanti on stage at the Puccini Theatre. The performance, directed by Andrea Rizzolini, features Dario Adiletta, Francesco Della Bona, Niccolò Fontana, Andrea Rizzolini, Filiberto Selvi and Piero Venesia.

VADO A VIVERE CON ME AT THE PUCCINI THEATRE

On Friday 10 May, at 9 p.m., the Puccini Theatre will stage the play Vado a vivere con me by Jonathan Canini and Walter Santillo.

STARRY NIGHT, IMMERSIVE CONCERTS AT THE CATHEDRAL OF THE IMAGE

The immersive concerts of the Starry Night initiative continue at the Cathedral of the Image, featuring pop music reinterpreted in a classical key with a starry sky enveloping the audience in the deconsecrated church of Santo Stefano al Ponte. The program: May 12 Tribute to Michael Jackson; Saturday, June 1 Tribute to Lady Gaga.

CAVEMAN. CAVEMAN WITH MAURIZIO COLOMBI AT THE PUCCINI THEATRE

Saturday 11 May, at 9 p.m., at the Puccini Theatre, Maurizio Colombi is the protagonist of the show Caveman. L'uomo delle caverne a monologue written by Rob Becker, directed by Teo Teocoli and with live music performed by the Cave Band.

ORBITE MUSICALI 2024, THREE CONCERTS OF THE CHERUBINI CONSERVATORY AT THE GALILEO MUSEUM

The third edition of the Orbite musicali (Musical Orbits) festival is kicking off, with three concerts on Sundays 5, 12 and 19 May that the Museo Galileo is proposing together with the Conservatorio Cherubini, for the seventh year of collaboration between the two institutions. The concerts will be held at 11 a.m. at the Museum. Participation is free of charge for museum ticket holders, booking is recommended at 055 265311. For further information: www.museogalileo.it.