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Teatro Comunale, Florence

The Teatro Comunale originated in the Florentine Politeama, which was designed in 1862 by Telemaco Bonaiuti, an open arena over which the present structure was built. It seats 2003 people and is made up of a large stalls section, and two wide semi-circular galleries giving the impression of an amphitheatre. Near the main auditorium is the Piccolo Teatro, a small, modern theatre seating approximately 600 spectators. Partially destroyed twice, in the bombing of 1944 and in the flood of 1966, the Comunale was quickly rebuilt, symbolizing the determination of the citizens to re-emerge and demonstrating its loyalty to the city

The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino was founded in 1933 by Vittorio Gui; it is the oldest Italian music festival and, on an international level, one of the most important. Although it started on a triennial basis, by 1937 it had already become an annual event and one of the most popular music pilgrimages. Since it began the Maggio Festival has attracted world attention for the basic cultural choices which it envisages and has always maintained: in the first place the problems related to the visual element in opera, for which the greatest theatrical and film producers of our times have been called upon, as well as a considerable number of famous painters and sculptors as costume and set designers.

Secondly there has been constant curiosity for the music of the twentieth century, from the first avant garde compositions to more recent experiences, through the active participation of the composers themselves. This has been accompanied by the rediscovery of works and composers of the past. Finally, there has been the constant presence of great interpreters: conductors, soloists and singers, indispensable for the realization of such ambitious projects and who, thanks to the new productions and innovative sets, have allowed genuine re-readings of the scores of the traditional operas. If the festival takes up the months of May and June, the activity of the theatre goes on all year round, with its opera season, its concerts and ballets, and the summer concerts in the magnificent and suggestive framework of the Boboli Gardens: a constant and varied offer of musical occasions for an international, exacting and qualified audience.

TEATRO COMUNALE EVENTS/CONCERTS 2008

CLAUS PETER FLOR	From 14/03/08 To 16/03/08
For his debut with the Teatro del Maggio, he conducts music by Mendelssohn, Schubert and Beethoven.

JAMES CONLON	From 20/03/08 To 21/03/08
The return of the great American conductor with Verdi’s Requiem with Christine Brewer, Elena Zaremba, Aquiles Machado and Ildar Abdrazakov.

DMITRIJ KITAENKO	From 28/03/08 To 30/03/08
Bizet’s Carmen and Mussorgky’s Pictures at the Exhibition in the transcriptions for orchestra by Schedrin and Ravel

ZUBIN METHA	From 08/04/08 To 09/04/08
The principal conductor of the Maggio Musicale closes the season with music by Mendelssohn and Bruckner
TOSCA	From 11/10/08 To 26/10/08
The autumn Festival dedicated to the great Italian lyric repertory opens with a new production of Giacomo Puccini’s popular ‘Roman’ opera, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth. Mario Pontiggia creates the new production with scenes and costumes by Francesco Zito and with Antonio Pirolli on the podium. The principal singers are Daniela Dessì, Marco Berti and Alberto Mastromarino.

LA BOHEME	From 12/10/08 To 22/10/08
The Puccini celebrations continue with a new production of another celebrated work, which will have Maria Luigia Borsi in the part of the little flower girl Mimì with Giampaolo Bisanti conducting.

BALLET	From 16/10/08 To 24/10/08
Cavalleria rusticana will be paired with ballets based on works by Giuseppe Verdi: "The Four Seasons" from I Vespri siciliani and the exotic dances from Aida.

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA	From 16/10/08 To 24/10/08
Pietro Mascagni’s masterpiece will be the third new production for the autumn Festival of the Maggio dedicated to the great Italian lyric repertory. It is again by Mario Pontiggia and Francesco Zito. Pietro Rizzo conducts, and the cast consists of Marianne Cornetti (Santuzza), Fabio Armiliato (Turiddu), Silvio Zanon (Alfio) and Viorica Cortez (Mamma Lucia).

Calendar: 71th Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Opera

JEANNE D'ARC AU BÛCHER