Women Headliners at Amici Chamber Concerts
As autumn’s golden hues paint the city of Florence, the 2023/2024 Amici della Musica concert season, presented by Andrea Lucchesini, stands as a mesmerizing ode to femininity in music, where soul-stirring melodies and captivating compositions take center stage. With its inaugural performance scheduled for October 14, a harmonious celebration of femininity in music unfolds, resonating with the beauty of their artistry. In total, 50 concerts are planned through April 2024.
History reveals Italy’s often overlooked gems: early figures in Italian Baroque and Renaissance music, the likes of Maddalena Casulana, Caterina Assandra, Francesca Caccini, and Barbara Strozzi, have been testaments of a legacy in obscurity as their artistic brilliance has historically been relegated to linger in the shadows of their male contemporaries.
The Amici della Musica concert lineup shines a spotlight on modern feminine genius in music. This season’s inaugural concert will feature the powerhouse soloist Anna Geniushene, a piano virtuoso who debuted her talents at the age of six at the Berlin Philharmonic Hall. In 2022 she claimed the silver medal at the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition with her impactful take on the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1. She offers a prelude to the 2023/2024 Concert Season with Piano Concerto n. 1 and Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony on October 14 (4 pm), at the Teatro della Pergola, along with a symphonic concert by Orchestra Giovanile Italiana of the Fiesole Music School.
As the curtains rise on each performance this season, as will audiences as they experience a stage transformed by harmonious blends of tradition and innovation, offering patrons a mesmerizing journey through the rich legacies of female creatives in the traditionally male-dominated world of music.
One of the thematic highlights of the season is the Ritratti or Portraits series, a heartfelt tribute positioning living composers in dialogue with maestros of the past. After the success of last season’s concerts dedicated to Silvia Colasanti and Silvia Borselli, Italian composers and recipients of the 41st and 40th Premio Abbiati della critica Francesca Verunelli (October 29) and Clara Iannotta (December 3) will emerge as some of this year’s thematic focal points.
The “Musica &…” cycle interweaves performance media, such as art, poetry, and other narrative mediums, with traditional classical music. This year’s version will notably feature actress Milena Vukotic, renowned for her work in television and theater, who will lend her artistry to the program as she recites texts by Rossini as a piece from the Péchés de vieillesse is played (November 12).
Through a collaboration with Radio3, Amici della Musica will be reaching music enthusiasts from around the globe as several concerts will be broadcast through radio, bringing the maestros to you.
As the crisp air heralds the arrival of the new season, the Amici della Musica invites music lovers to join in celebrating the timeless artistry of women whose harmonies continue to shape the world of classical music. (Sofia Barsan)
A detailed Music Calendar can be found on the Amici della Musica di Firenze website.
