Traditional Free Holiday Concerts & Readings in Florence

 

The Schola Cantorum Francesco Landini

This year St. Mark’s, the British Institute Library, and the Fiesole Music School have planned free holiday happenings for all comers and all ages.

December 14

The British Institute Library (Lungarno Guicciardini 9)

A free Christmas event organized by British Institute Library in partnership with St Mark’s English Church will be held at 6 pm.  The concert will be held in the library and the evening will also include readings, singing, caroling, and storytelling. Admission is free to the public and the evening will end with mulled wine and mince pies.

December 17

St Mark’s English Church (Via Maggio 16)

On December 17 from 6 pm there will be Advent readings in addition to traditional Christmas carols led by St Mark’s choir in the church. This will also be followed by mince pies and mulled wine at a festive reception.

December 17 & 18

The Schola Cantorum Francesco Landini is offering two free Christmas concerts.  The first, on December 17 (6:30 pm) will be held at the Lyceum Club Internazionale, Lungarno Guicciardini 17 in Florence.  The choir will then sing at the Church of San Domenico (Fiesole) on December 18 at 7:15 pm. The program will consist of famous and lesser known pieces. The concerts will be conducted by Paolo Gonnelli.  He obtained his master’s degree in Choral Conducting in 2015 and has assumed the role as director of the Schola Cantorum this year. Gonnelli completed his studies with qualifications as a Maestro collaborator and Stage Master at Teatro Lirico Sperimentale di Spoleto.

The Schola Cantorum Francesco Landini will interpret pieces by Bach, Händel, Haydn, Schubert, Schumann, Rheinberger, Gounod, Kodály, Fauré, Mendelssohn and Elgar. The performances will also features solos by sopranos Chiara Prucher, Angela Bonciani, Hsuan Jen Chang and Anna Capoferri, mezzo-sopranos Cuimei Cheng and Giulia Tavella, tenors Daniel Andreas Ystad and David Antonini, baritones Jan-Magnar Andersen Gard, Filippo Grilli, Tolga Gürkan Gürdal and Chao Wang.  (Michela Tambasco)