The Grand Carnival Ball 2020 - Tribute to Venice

Masks, artists, incredible performances for an extraordinary gala evening at Palazzo Vecchio

Friday 21 February saw a very special evening in Florence.

In the extraordinary setting of Palazzo Vecchio, The Grand Carnival Ball - Tribute to Venice was held, the incredible event that revived in a modern key the atmosphere of the sumptuous masked balls held in Florentine palaces until the early twentieth century.

On the stairs of the arengario, 20 representatives from the Carnival of Venice, dressed as Doges and court figures, Palace jacks, Stenterello - traditional mask of the Carnival of Florence - and Arlecchino welcomed the 200 guests of the evening, escorted by the Bianconiglio to the Salone dei Cinquecento, magnificently decorated with spectacular Mazzanti Piume decorations and light effects by Omikron.

Stenterello and Bianconiglio

More than 100 artists and masks gave life to the many performances that followed before, during and after the dinner stage curated by Guido Guidi Ricevimenti, with Colle Bereto wines.

Performance by the Accademia del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

From the performance by the Accademia del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino - with soprano Carmen Buendia, tenor Antonio Alcaide Gares, baritone William Hernandez and Maestro Claudio Capretti at the piano, who performed pieces from Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia and Le maschere di Mascagni - to the majestic Marea Regia, the violinist Isabella Bui, who played from the top of a gigantic dress - installation by Huma Show Entertainment - through the elegant danced waltz of the Associazione Amici del Teatro and Atelier de Danse, and the Piccolo Nuovo Teatro with its waders, magicians, fortune tellers, magicians and other circus artists. Up to an amusing 'masks off!', who saw the gendarmerie arrest Stenterello, who had not revealed his face.

Marea Regia

After dinner, it was time for the Carnival Party in the Sala d'Arme, animated by characters and performances by Stranomondo Agency on dj sets by Remo Giugni, Kama and Kommando, who alternated in consoles immersed in a projection show.

An event strongly supported by Comune di Firenze, under the patronage of Regione Toscana, Presidenza del Consiglio Regionale, Città Metropolitana, Confcommercio, organized by Aiwa Onlus - Arab Italian Women Association in collaboration with Gruppo Editoriale and Once Extraordinary Events. Directed by Federica Rotondo of Once Extraordinary Event.