Liberation Day Celebrations in Florence 2017

A scene from the April 25 Teatro Verdi performance

Although Italy went over to the Allied side in 1943 with a general armistice signed in September 1943, it was not until April 25, 1945 that the national committee of resistance fighters (partigiani) asked the Italian people to their help to overthrow the remnants of Mussolini’s government in northern Italy.  The call paved the way for the surrender of the Nazis and Fascist forces in Italy, which took place by May 1.

Liberation Day was declared a national holiday in 1949, and official celebrations are held throughout the country, including Florence.

A wreath will be laid on Tuesday morning at 10 am in piazza dell’Unità to honor WWII casualties.  Authorities will form a procession leading to Palazzo Vecchio where a 10:45 am ceremony will commence with the Rossini’s Philharmonic Band’s rendition of the resistance fighters’ anthem, Bella Ciao.  Trumpets will sound, the Italian national anthem will be played, which will be followed by speeches by Florence mayor Dario Nardella, the head of provincial ANPI (resistance fighters) chapter Silvano Sarti and local journalist Aldo Cazzullo.  A free concert by the Rossini Philharmonic Band will begin at 5:30 pm right in front of Palazzo Vecchio.

Another free April 25 concert at Florence’s Teatro Verdi will be offered to the public in the evening.  In a performance definitely out of the ordinary, artisans and musicians join the Orchestra della Toscana for the debut of Sinfonia da Experimetum Mundi by Giorgio Battistelli.

Battistelli, the composer of Sinfonia and artistic director of the Fondazione ORT, reimagines his 1981 piece with unusual orchestral conduction. Using the sounds and gestures of daily life, nature, and rhythms to create a harmonic musical language, Battistelli’s piece is designed to bring the audience and the esemble together in this musical experience.

On stage will be 22 artisans (including masons, pastry chefs, carpenters, shoemakers, four female singers, one actor and a percussionist) with the Orchestra della Toscana, which comprises 22 musicians.

The juxtaposition of the intricate classical score and wild interventions of the artisan’s sounds make for a playful event as the two groups weave their tones together at Battistelli’s direction.

Entrance is free but space is limited. To download an invite (each is valid for two guests), visit www.orchestradellatoscana.it.

City-run museums such as Santa Maria Novella, Palazzo Vecchio, Arnolfo’s Tower and the Novecento Museum of 20th Century Art can also be visited on April 25 . (rosanna cirigliano & tessa lucia debole)