Here is an at-a-glance guide to Florence’s major holiday fairs that will take place during the first week of December, 2024. Friday, Dec. 6: CHRISTMAS FAIR. British Institute Library, Lungarno Guicciardini 9. 3 – 6 pm. Expect to find art, crafts, gifts and food including homemade desserts for sale in addition, tea with biscuits and cakes served by volunteers and a lottery featuring prizes including a Fortnum and Mason hamper filled with English [...]
A celebration of Puccini’s five female operatic icons will be brought to life in Giacomo Puccini’s Dance Circus Opera at Teatro Verdi (via Ghibellina 99). The renowned composer will be honored through music, theater, dance, and circus, in performances scheduled on Saturday, November 30 at 9 pm and Sunday, December 1 at 5 pm. The entire production, directed by Caterina Mochi Sismondi, uses female choreography, musicians, and behind-the-scenes strategists and supporters to [...]
November 20 – 24: FESTIVAL DI CINEMA E DONNE 2024 (Women & Cinema). Cinema La Compagnia, via Cavour 52/4. Varied Hours of talks and screenings. Many films are in English or with English subtitles. The Festival di Cinema e Donne makes a return to La Compagnia, celebrating its 45th year of showcasing women in film. After a hiatus, the festival is back in full force: the program this year is incredibly diverse, [...]
“From Florence to Persia: Medici Diplomacy in the East,” is the subject of a talk in English given by Dr. Alexandria Brown-Hejazi at CEA CAPA on via Pandolfini 20 on November 16 at 6 pm. Refreshments will follow. RSVP to greverdito@ceacapa.com. In 1500, it took nearly two years to travel by land and sea from Florence to Isfahan, the capital of the Persian Empire. Despite the long and dangerous journey, dozens of ambassadors [...]
The Conventino complex, via Giana della Bella 20, is hosting Tuscan farmers and local producers for a fall showcase of food, wine and spirits on November 9 (11 am – 9 pm) and 10 (11 am – 8 pm). Visitors are invited to sample cheeses, cured meat, breads, preserves, honey, olive oils and balsamic vinegars, craft beers, wine and spirits in addition to desserts and chocolates, which are also for sale. The [...]
The 44th concert season of the Orchestra della Toscana will present a special performance conducted by James Conlon on Thursday, November 7 at 9 pm in Teatro Verdi. The evening begins with pieces from Act II of Orpheus and Eurydice by Christoph Willibald Gluck, and the program also features two of the most famous symphonies of the 18th century: Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, K.550, and Haydn’s Symphony No. 103, “Drumroll.” James Conlon is an [...]
The Uffizi Gallery is accessible free of charge on Monday, November 4, a day that the museum is normally closed, in celebration of Armed Forces Day (formerly a national holiday). The museum can be visited from 8:15 am to 6:30 pm, with the last entrance at 5:30 pm. Other major Florence sites exceptionally open this Monday at no charge include the Bargello National Museum (8:15 am- 1:50 pm); the Academy Gallery and [...]
The French soprano Sandrine Piau is returning to the Amici della Musica this season once again to perform with pianist David Kadouch on Saturday November 2, at 4 pm, in the Teatro della Pergola. Their programme will comprise pieces by Schubert, Schumann, Liszt, Debussy, Wolf, Boulanger and Duparc, and is titled “Voyage intime, invitation au voyage” (An intimate journey, an invitation to travel). Both artists have attained international recognition and boast an array [...]
The ‘Orchestra della Toscana’ will perform a program comprising works of Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Schumann in the Teatro Verdi to inaugurate their 44th concert season on October 30, at 9 pm. The talented principal conductor Diego Ceretta has created a program that centres around two foundational nineteenth century composer’s pieces: Ludwig van Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, and Felix Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony. Beethoven’s Egmont Overture was inspired by Gothe’s drama of the same name, while [...]
Returning to Teatro della Pergola this Saturday, October 26, Amici della Musica has two exciting performances lined up. At 4 pm, Korean violinst Bomsori and Russian pianist Julia Okraushvili will performe a programme of Franck, Szymanowski, Beethoven and Wieniawski. Bomsori, considered a treasure in her native country, boasts triumphs in some of the most prestigious international competitions, including Sibelius, The Queen Elisabeth Competition, Tchaikovsky, Wieniawski, the ARD music competition and the CMIM [...]
