Rhythms in the Refectory: Two Nights of Free Summer Concerts in Santa Croce

The European Chamber Music Academy (ECMA) in conjunction with the ensembles of the Fiesole Music School will be offering two special nights of concerts in the refectory of Santa Croce during the third week of July, 2026. From Mozart to Gershwin, the performances will span a range of musical styles down three centuries. Both events will take place on Wednesday and Thursday evening at 9:30 pm. Both concerts are free, however, must be booked in advance as soon as possible online to reserve seats.

With its stunning frescoed walls and trussed wooden ceiling, the refectory of Santa Croce is the ideal setting for a chamber music concert. The event will be a pleasure for both the ears and the eyes as guests can admire the beauty of Gaddi’s Tree of Life, Vasari’s The Last Supper and Cimabue’s Crucifix while listening to the gorgeous instrumental pieces played by Fiesole’s skilled young musicians. 

The first session of the program, on July 22, will feature the Havisham Trio, the Elaia Quartet, and the Chimera Trio. They will play renditions of works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, György Kurtág, and Dmitri Shostakovich. 

On July 23, the second evening will open with the Ineo and Turicum Quartets performing music by Viktor Ullmann, a Czech composer and pianist who perished in the Auschwitz concentration camp, and Franz Joseph Haydn. Following the trio there will be a change in genre with th saxophonists of the A-Delta Trio who will interpret works of Volkmar Andreae, George Gershwin and Manuel de Falla. The night will conclude with another piece by Shostakovich presented by the Atenea Quartet. 

To make a reservation for the performances please see ticket.santacroceopera.it

(Francesca Negri)