86° Festival del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
The 86th edition of the Maggio Musicale Festival begins on 13 April 2024 at 8pm.
Two months of programming until June 13th with three operas, Turandot, Jeanne Dark, Tosca, five choral symphonic concerts with the Orchestra and Coro del Maggio conducted by
Daniele Gatti and Zubin Mehta, the symphonic concerts of Myung-Whun Chung leading the Maggio team and Riccardo Muti with the Wiener Philharmoniker, a ballet and collaborations with the Fiesole School of Music, the Cherubini Conservatory, the Orchestra of Tuscany, the Orchestra Giovanile Italiana.
The Festival poster was created by the artist Francesca Banchelli.
Numerous Festival events are already completely sold out in every seating order
Florence, April 11th, 2024 – On April 13th, 2024, the Maggio Musicale Festival begins at the Teatro del Maggio in Florence. The launch of the 86th edition was given by the superintendent of the Teatro del Maggio Carlo Fuortes, by the mayor of Florence and president of the Maggio Foundation Dario Nardella, by the president of the Tuscany Region Eugenio Giani together with the main director Daniele Gatti and the director emeritus Zubin Mehta. The two-month programming program does not undergo changes compared to the presentation of the Festival last November 2023 by the then extraordinary commissioner of the Maggio, Onofrio Cutaia.
Three operas Turandot, Jeanne Dark and Tosca. Turandot and Tosca are scheduled to celebrate the centenary of the death of the great composer Giacomo Puccini. Turandot will be on stage from April 21st in the sumptuous and famous "historical" staging by Zhang Yimou (revived by Stefania Grazioli) with the conduction of Zubin Mehta and Tosca from May 24th in the new staging directed by Massimo Popolizio and conducted by Daniele Gatti ; Jeanne Dark is the new work commissioned from Fabio Vacchi; goes on stage with the direction of Alessandro Cadario and the direction of Valentino Villa starting from May 14th. Numerous symphonic-choral concerts with the Maggio Orchestra and Choir- prepared as always by Lorenzo Fratini - conducted by Daniele Gatti who opens the Festival on April 13th and Zubin Mehta who closes it on June 13th , the concert by Myung-Whun Chung on May 25th, and the concert conducted by Riccardo Muti leading the Wiener Philharmoniker, on May 12th. Daniele Gatti also conducts the choral symphony concerts on May 5th and June 7th. Also on the bill is a ballet "Trilogy of ecstasy" with the Zappalà Danza Company which will stage Après-midi d'un faune, Boléro and Le sacre du Printemps on May 30 and 31st. Furthermore, the program includes fruitful collaborations with the Accademia del Maggio, the Accademia Bartolomeo Cristofori for five concerts starting from April 14th, with the Cherubini Conservatory of Music in Florence and with the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole for four concerts with the their chamber ensembles for the “Young musicians project” on May 7th, 8th, 10th and 11th, with L'homme armé, on May 21st, with the Orchestra della Toscana conducted by Riccardo Bisatti on June 1st, with G.A.M.O. on June 5th, with Alexander Lonquich and the Orchestra Giovanile Italiana on June 10th, with Tempo Reale on June 1th and 12th. Four concerts by the Orchestra del Maggio directed by Domenico Pierini are also scheduled for the "Maggio Diffuso" which will be performed within the Metropolitan City on May 10th, 15th, 16th and 17th.
Also scheduled on April 14th in the large garden in front of the Teatro del Maggio is the traditional appointment with the musical bands and musicians of the Calcio Storico Fiorentino, in collaboration with ANBIMA.
The three works will be explored in depth during the cycle "Prima le parole, poi la musica" during five events on April 11th and 19 th for Turandot, May 10 th for Jeanne Dark, May 22 th and 23 th for Tosca. A two-day conference is scheduled for April 26 th and 27 th to remember the figure of Rolando Panerai "A baritone for the twentieth century, between tradition and modernity", curated by Giancarlo Landini and Giovanni Vitali.
On April 18th, at 5 pm, will be presented the book “E la giostra va, Conversations with Gianni Tangucci" by Francesco Libetta (Edifir, Edizioni Firenze) in which the author and Gianni Tangucci will intervene. All events will take place in a reduced hall in the Galleria Foyer and will be free to enter until all available seats are filled.
Thanks to the consolidated collaboration for five editions with Museo Novecento, directed by Sergio Risaliti, the poster for this edition of the Festival was created by the artist Francesca Banchelli, who for her work created a Trinitarian image of female archetypes inspired by the three figures of Turandot, Tosca and Joan of Arc. The central figure is inspired by Princess Turandot, whose head coincides with the setting sun (last scene of the opera); the shadow on the right is that of Tosca with the dagger in her hand and the central one is that of Joan of Arc, whose spirit stands out reaching up to the sky.
On the occasion of the inauguration of the Festival on April 13th and of the first opera, Turandot, on April 21 th, the large Ferris wheel at the Parco delle Cascine will illuminate the rays of the structure with light’s plays which will be dominated by the red color, the same of the Festival, and with the logo of the event which will remain illuminated in the center of the wheel.
The audience's response to the program is very comforting: the opening concert led by Daniele Gatti, the concert conducted by Riccardo Muti, the premiere of Turandot and the third repeat performance (the others are quickly running out) are sold out in every place.
The Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Foundation thanks its members for their support:
Members by right, Public Founders: the Ministry of Culture, the Municipality of Florence and the Tuscany Region.
The Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Foundation also thanks the private Founding Members: Fondazione CR Firenze, Intesa Sanpaolo.
Furthermore: Baker Hughes, Allianz, Gucci, Publiacqua, Toscana Aeroporti, Unicoop Firenze, Salvatore Ferragamo, Toscana Energia, University of Florence, Pitti Immagine;
the Sponsors: Enel, Caffè Borbone, Officina Profumo-Pharmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, Cassetti Rolex;
the Technical Sponsors: Tecnoconference, Torrigiani.
The Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Foundation also thanks all the members of the Register of Associates: the patron companies, the Corporate plus, the Supporting Associates, the Meritorious Members, the Full Members, the Associates and the Friends of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Association.