Started in’33, the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has become known as one of the first musical festivals in Italy that was founded by Vittorio Gui, an Italian conductor and composer. In’37, the opera festival became a biennial event. After’37, it became and annual event. However, this was not the case during the Second World War.
Today, the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is a yearly opera festival that conducts contemporary and bygone operas for opera lovers all over the world in stunning productions and displays. Music has always played an important part in Florence. The very first operas that were performed were at the end of the sixteenth century and since then Italians have grown with a deep appreciation for the musical arts.
Nowadays the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, which is at the centre of musical life, is located at the Teatro Comunale, which seats up to 2003 people. Designed in’62 by Telemaco Bonaiuti, the Teatro Comunale is an open arena that is made up of large stalls, as well as two wide semi-circular galleries that illustrate the impression of an amphitheatre. When the first opera at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino was presented, opera lovers were treated to Verdi’s early Nabucco. Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian romantic composer mainly of opera in the’th century. As an influential composer of his time, he frequently performed in opera houses around the world.
Since the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino first began, it has become known on an international level as one of the most important musical festivals. The festival has attracted world attention because of its basic cultural choices that have always been maintained to the highest standard that have been at the hands of some of the greatest conductors. The conductors that have been a part of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino include the founder Vittorio Gui, Bruno Walter, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Zubin Mehta, Wilhelm Furtwngler, von Karajan and Muti. Since’85, the principle conductor has been Zubin Mehta, while the present Artistic Director is Paolo Arc
The 2010 preliminary program suggests a feast of ballet and opera with opera performances ranging from L’italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers) by Gioachino Rossini, The Cunning Little Vixen by Leo Jancek, Il campanello (The Night Bell) by Gaetano Donizetti and Adriana Lecouvreur, based on the French actress Adrienne Lecouvreue (1692-1730) by Francesco Cilea. Ballet performances include the ever famous Don Quixote and Carmen Suite.
Founded in’33, the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino has since become known all over the world and as a result has gained international status. Taking place during April, May and June, Italy’s oldest musical festival is a production complete with performances with four operas, concerts, exhibitions and ballets. Even though the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is during April, May and June, the activity of the festival is also present throughout the year.
Complete with concerts, ballets and the opera season, the Boboli Gardens is where you can find additional opera delights for opera lovers throughout the year.
Tickets for the 2009-2010 season of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino festival are on sale now.
For more information on hotels in the area please visit Hotel Florence near Maggio Musicale and click here for more information on Festivals in Florence Italy
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