The rhythm of summer
Florence and performances, a lasting bond. Discover the must-see events
POP/ROCK
Summer in Florence also means music.
From rock to electronica, the program of aoutdoor, live concerts is worthy of being held in one of the most important international capitals.
But let’s go in order and prepare ourselves for the first major burst of music: spectacular rock.
Yes, the second edition of Firenze Rocks, at the Visarno Arena, is definitely irresistible: on stage, amongst others, are the Foo Fighters and The Kills on June 14, followed by Guns N’ Roses on Friday, the 15th, Iron Maiden on Saturday, the 16th and the grand finale on Sunday, the 17th, Ozzy Osbourne. Twelve hours of electronica, from noon to midnight, for a thrilling day of dance and energy: for dance lovers, on Sunday, June 24 there’s Decibel Open Air 2018, with top names like Paul Kalkbrenner, Carl Cox and Nina Kraviz, at the Visarno Arena. This year’s edition of Estate Fiesolana, in the incredible Roman Theatre in Fiesole is loaded with events, from theatre to music, six evenings dedicated to narrating the Iliad and the participation of big-name musicians like Roberto Vecchioni on June 27, Avion Travel on the 29th, Elio Germano and Teho Teardo on Saturday, July 7, Stefano Bollani on July 10, Bobo Rondelli on July 13 and Calibro 35 on the 20th. Take major concerts and performances, add a dream location like piazza Santissima Annunziata, an enchanted place on warm summer evenings, and you’ll get the Musart Festival 2018. Amongst the live concerts on the program, there’s Baustelle on Tuesday, July 17, Chick Korea Akoustic Band on Monday, July 23, Jethro Tull on Tuesday, July 24, Francesco De Gregori on the 25th and Ermal Meta on Thursday, July 26. Mark your calendars: July 21, Stadio Artemio Franchi.
It’s right here in Florence that Rockin’1000 will take place, a powerful musical format bringing together more than 1,000 musicians who will all perform live at the same time.
Opera/classical/dance
For lovers of opera and classical music, the summer is decidedly hot, beginning with the 81st edition of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, which under the direction of the Venetian Cristiano Chiarot expands to the most evocative and historic places in Florence, meeting the public where it’s to be found.
James Conlon pays tribute to Sostakovic on June 10 at Teatro del Maggio with the Leningrad Symphony, about the Russian resistance, while on June 15, also at Teatro del Maggio, the Chinese pianist Jin Ju performs Schubert using a fortepiano, a historic instrument. In the dense program that celebrates the 1,000th anniversary of the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte, on June 26, there’s the must-see concert of L’Homme Armé, directed by Fabio Lombardo, with music ranging from the Middle Ages (Guillaume Dufay) to the 20th century, performed by the American composer David Lang.
At Santa Maria del Fiore, on the 24th, the patron saint of Florence is celebrated with the Mass of San Giovanni at 10am. On June 28, Zubin Mehta directs Sir Andràs Schiff at the piano, who will perform two of the most complex pieces from the classical repertoire of Brahms and the first opera by Sostakovic at the Teatro.
From June 25 to 29, in Buontalenti’s evocative grotto in the Boboli Gardens, the Florentine season opens with La Dafne, an opera by Marco da Gagliano. Dance lovers can’t miss (June 29 to July 1) the performances organized by Maggio for the inauguration of Palazzina dell’Indiano. On July 20, for Musart, in piazza Santissima Annunziata, Riccardo Bolle and Friend takes the stage, in one of the most engaging performances of the season.
Dance continues, but this time set to the rhythm of poetry by Nobel-prize winner Joseph Brodsky, with the indestructible Mikhail Baryshnikov (from July 3 to 5) at the Teatro del Maggio.
Melomaniacs can miss the events featuring arias from the most famous operas on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday until late Autumn in various churches and palaces around Florence, like the Anglican church of St. Mark, Santo Stefano al Ponte, Santa Monica, Orsanmichele and Palazzo Medici Riccardi.
Also for Maggio, Riccardo Muti directs Macbeth at the Teatro (July 11 to 13), closing the 81st edition of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in style.
