Youth Orchestra Concerts in Piazza Signoria with Free Admission

 

The tonart Jugendsinfonieorchestra

2024 marks a big milestone for the Florence Youth Orchestra Festival. This year, the organizers will be celebrating its 25th year of hosting free summer concerts in the Florence city center. Until August 2, youth orchestras from across the world will perform in Piazza della Signoria’s Loggia dei Lanzi. With both classical and contemporary genres represented, the festival gives each orchestra the freedom to curate its own program of music.

The next concert to take place will be on July 11 at 8:30 pm, featuring the Austrian youth group tonart Jugendsinfonieorchester. Directed by Markus Pferscher, the group includes more than 80 youth musicians whose studies have allowed them to explore music across many genres, cultures, and eras. This will be reflected in the orchestra’s program for Thursday night, which will span opera, polka, and march tunes from throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Their performance of “Siciliana” from the opera Cavalleria Rusticana will feature Riccardo di Francesco as a baritone soloist.

Founded in 1999, the festival aims to give youth musicians from around the world the opportunity to showcase their skills and experience the unique beauty of the Tuscan region. Despite its name, the Florence Youth Festival isn’t limited to just one city – participating groups will also have the opportunity to perform at venues across Tuscany and Umbria. Since its founding, over 300 orchestras from around the world have participated in the festival. This year’s festival will see 13 countries represented, including Norway, Canada, Slovakia, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Estonia, Brazil, Malta, China, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Mexico. (Tara Monastesse)

Concerts this week will be held in Piazza Signoria at 8:30 pm on the following dates:

July 11
tonart Jugendsinfonieorchester

July 14
Harju County String Orchestra