Sumptuous musical interludes inserted between the acts of a theatrical show - whether it be a comedy, a pastoral tale, tragedy or allegorical representation - Renaissance intermediums were considered as the forerunners of musical opera. In 1589 in Florence, in the run-up to the celebrations for the wedding of the Grand Duke Ferdinand I and Christina of Lorraine, the Count Giovanni Bardi was charged with the creation of the intermediums for the play by Girolamo Bargagli, La Pellegrina. The official event saw the coming together for this important and ambitious project of an incredible team of the most important poets and musicians of the time, such as Cristofano Malvezzi, Luca Marenzio, Giulio Caccini, Jacopo Peri, Emilio de’ Cavalieri, Antonio Archilei and Bardi himself. The spectacular show was an immediate success, so much so that the intermediums were performed in the days to follow during another two plays. Based on allegorical and moral themes of a classic style, the Six intermediums in La Pellegrina provide for choral madrigals, double and triple choirs, solo accompanied numbers and instrumental pieces, inserted into the impressive and sumptuous staging by Bernando Buontalenti.

New production
In collaboration with Gallerie degli Uffizi

First scenic representation in modern times

Itinerant opera.
No numbered seats, just some benches for who wants to be sitting.