opera in tuscany this fall and winter

Picture it: You’re traveling to Tuscany later this year and want to experience the beauty of opera. Whether it’s for the first time or the 20th, this article is for you!

Having joined a few Facebook pages for Tuscany travel, I’ve noticed people asking what opera events are near X city for select dates. Now, in the USA it’s easy to Google these things and find the answers right at your fingertips. However, here in Italy, it can be pretty hit or miss.

If you’re new here, hi! My name is Scarlett and I am an opera singer who wants to help you discover the beauty of opera. I will admit it, opera is daunting. It’s sung in a different language, the style of singing is not familiar to your ear at first, and there’s a culture surrounding opera that you must know it all or you are not welcome. Well that is definitely not the case here. Opera is for everyone, it’s for you! It’s a form of art that transcends time. From love to heartbreak to deceit to murder to magic, opera is full of life.

In all honesty, I have looked for all these operas multiple times and I am also making this list for myself haha. While Operabase is wonderful — Operabase is a search engine and database that allows you to look for certain shows, artists, and more with filters — you can’t search by region. Also, it can be difficult for some to navigate.

Below, I will share a list of operas by city, include some information about each one, train times from certain cities, and links for ticket purchases. The cities in Tuscany where you can find opera are Florence & Pisa.

Please keep in mind that this list only includes operas that are performed in their entirety (not just scenes, arias, etc.). No concerts are included.

Happy opera going!

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Florence, Italy

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Florence, Italy ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

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Train Distances (fastest)

From Rome - 1 hour & 30 minutes

From Milan - 1 hour & 45 minutes

From Pisa - 1 hour

Did you know opera was born here?

Thanks to the Medicis and their love for the arts, we have opera as it exists today. Daphne by Jacopo Peri is considered by many to be the first opera, which was performed in 1597.

Maggio Musicale

The Maggio Musicale is a historic place that has been updated to a modern theater. It’s about 20 minutes from the Santa Maria Novella train station and just outside the Parco delle Cascine. This theater hosts the most operas in Tuscany and will feature four different shows this fall and winter. You can find English subtitles, but I suggest sitting in the middle section because the subtitles are shown above the stage. If you sit on the sides, it might be hard to read them.Tickets are available to purchase online.

La Cenerentola by Rossini

Beginner Friendly Level: ★★★☆☆

Notes: Familiar Story, Lots of Coloratura (Fast moving notes), Family-Friendly, Italian

You’ll like this if you like… Cinderella, Into the Woods, Enchanted, Ella Enchanted

Based on the story of Cinderella, La Cenerentola by Rossini, is a classic fairytale that can appeal to a wide variety of audiences. It’s silly, fun, and full of jokes! Depending on what you are looking for, this opera can be a great introduction to the world of opera. However, the plot does move very slow and there is a lot of repetition in the lyrics.

Friday, September 20, 2024 - 20:00

Sunday, September 22, 2024 - 15:30

Tuesday, September 24, 2024 - 20:00

Friday, September 27, 2024 - 20:00

Duration

Act I: 1 hour and 40 minutes | Intermission: 30 minutes | Act II: 1 hour and 5 minutes

Approximately: 3 hours and 15 minutes

Price

Just listening 10€ | Gallery starts at 35€ | Stalls 1 130€

Cast

Conductor | Gianluca Capuano

Director | Manu Lalli

Don Ramiro | Patrick Kabongo

Dandini | William Hernandez

Don Magnifico | Marco Filippo Romano

Clorinda | Maria Laura Iacobellis

Tisbe | Aleksandra Meteleva

Angelina | Teresa Iervolino

Alidoro | Matteo D'Apolito

Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini

Beginner Friendly Level: ★★★★☆

Notes: Iconic Opera with Familiar Tunes, Emotional, Italian

You’ll like this if you like… Miss Saigon, Romeo & Juliette, Rusalka, West Side Story

This is one of the most popular operas and if you haven’t seen a Puccini opera, it is time you do! The music will steal your heart with it’s rich orchestrations and soaring lines. You’ll be left in tears by the end… be sure to bring your tissues.

Thursday, October 24, 2024 - 20:00

Sunday, October 27, 2024 - 15:30

Thursday, October 31, 2024 - 20:00

Saturday, November 2, 2024 - 15:30

Duration

Approximately: 2 hours and 45 minutes (intermission included)

Price

Just listening 10€ | Gallery starts at 35€ | Stalls 1 130€

Cast

Conductor | Daniele Gatti

Director | Lorenzo Mariani

Cio-Cio-San | Carolina López Moreno

F. B. Pinkerton | Piero Pretti/Vincenzo Costanzo (2/11)

Suzuki | Marvic Monreal

Sharpless | Nicola Alaimo

Lo zio Bonzo | Bozhidar Bozhkilov

Il principe Yamadori | Min Kim

Lo zio Yakusidé | Giovanni Mazzei

L'ufficiale del registro | Egidio Massimo Naccarato

La zia | Thalida Marina Fogarasi

La cugina | Paola Leggeri

La madre | Nadia Pirazzini

La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi

Beginner Friendly Level: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Notes: Featured in the movie Pretty Woman, One of my personal favorite operas (I’ve seen it live 10+ times), Italian

You’ll like this if you like… Moulin Rouge, Pretty Woman, Titanic, The Fault in Our Stars, Moonstruck, Remember Me, A Star is Born

Another popular opera, La Traviata is a tale of joy, love, heartbreak, and sorrow. From the chorus numbers (you may be familiar with the Brindisi) to the famous aria “Sempre libera” to the final act of the opera, this show promises to be a delight (and a heartbreak). Again… bring your tissues. I always cry - there’s nothing like experiencing La Traviata live.

Tuesday, November 19, 2024 - 20:00

Thursday, November 21, 2024 - 20:00

Sunday, November 24, 2024 - 15:30

Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - 20:00

Saturday, November 30, 2024 - 20:00

Sunday, December 1, 2024 - 15:30

Duration

First part: 1 hour and 28 minutes | Intermission: 25 minutes | Second part: 1 hour

Approximately: 2 hours and 53 minutes

Price

Just listening 10€ | Gallery starts at 35€ | Stalls 1 130€

Cast

Conductor | Roberto Abbado

Director | Stefania Grazioli

Violetta Valéry | Carolina López Moreno/Julia Muzychenko (21, 26/11; 1/12)

Flora Bervoix | Aleksandra Meteleva

Alfredo Germont | Giovanni Sala/Matheus Pompeu (21, 26/11; 1/12)

Giorgio Germont | Lodovico Filippo Ravizza/Min Kim (21, 26/11; 1/12)

Gastone | Oronzo D'Urso

Il barone Douphol | Yurii Strakhov

Mavra & Gianni Schicchi by Igor Stravinsky & Giacomo Puccini

Beginner Friendly Level: ★★★★☆

Notes: This is two one act operas, Comic, Short, Set in Florence

You’ll like this if you like… Knives Out, Divine Comedy (Dante), The Ultimate Gift,

Honestly, Mavra by Igor Stravinsky is not performed very often and I don’t know much about the short work - not to say you shouldn’t see it! Double bills are interesting, because you get to enjoy two different stories in one night. Mavra is a comic opera with the music taking inspiration from Tchaikovsky. It also features elements of jazz, waltzes, and romantic styles. Gianni Schicchi is another Puccini classic and is actually set right here in Florence. It’s is a wonderful comic opera featuring a classic aria, which you may be familiar with “O mio babbino caro”. It’s sure to be a treat!

Sunday, December 15, 2024 - 17:00

Wednesday, December 18, 2024 - 20:00

Friday, December 20, 2024 - 20:00

Sunday, December 22, 2024 - 15:30

Duration

Approximately 2 hours (intermission included)

Price

Just listening 10€ | Gallery starts at 35€ | Stalls 1 130€

Cast

Conductor | Francesco Lanzillotta

Direction, sets, costumes and lights | Denis Krief

Mavra

Paraša | Julia Muzychenko

La madre | Kseniia Nikolaieva

La vicina | Aleksandra Meteleva

L'ussaro | Iván Ayón Rivas

Gianni Schicchi

Gianni Schicchi | Roberto De Candia

Lauretta | Julia Muzychenko

Zita | Kseniia Nikolaieva

Rinuccio | Iván Ayón Rivas

Nella | Nikoletta Hertsak

Simone | Adriano Gramigni

La Ciesca | Aleksandra Meteleva

Bonus! At the Palazzo Corsini al Prato

Faust by Charles Gounod

Beginner Friendly Level: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Notes: A reduced version of this opera, French,

You’ll like this if you like… The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Rosemary’s Baby, Phantom of the Opera,

Are you going to be in Florence this Halloween?

Check out Mascarade Opera’s Faust on Thursday October 31st, 2024 at 19:00. Mascarade Opera is a year-long program for young opera singer, providing them the training they need to reach the next step of their career. Come witness the opera singers of the future take the stage in this shortened version of this spooky story.

Duration

Approximately 1 hour (intermission included)

Price

Under 27- 15€ | Standard 27€

The ticket gives you access to the Fondazione and Corsini gardens (weather permitting) from 6pm, including the offer of a glass of good wine. The concert starts at 7pm.

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Pisa, Italy

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

Pisa, Italy ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

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Train Distances (fastest)

From Rome - 2 hours & 45 minutes

From Milan - 3 hours

From Florence - 1 hour

Only a brief train ride away from Florence…

After seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa along with the incredible Duomo, catch an opera at the Teatro di Pisa.

Teatro di Pisa

Built in 1867, the Verdi Theatre (also known as the Teatro di Pisa) also boasts a strong history with performances by Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Callas, Franco Corelli, and many many more. The architecture is one greatest examples of 19th-century theatre architecture in Italy and their stage is one of the biggest in Italy.

Please note:

This theatre does not have English subtitles.

Tickets for the following two operas will go on sale in October.

Andrea Chenier by Umberto Giordano

Beginner Friendly Level: ★★★★☆

Notes: Romantic music, War story, Italian

You’ll like this if you like… Les miserables, Grave Of The Fireflies, La vita é bella

This is a powerful opera. The French Revolution. Love. Poetry. Passion. Death. If you’re interested in stories about war, this might be the opera for you. Andrea Chénier tells the story of a passionate poet during the tumultuous times of the French Revolution. Giordano, while not as famous as Verdi and Puccini, composes some of the most beautiful music, in my opinion.

Friday, October 25, 2024 - 20:30

Sunday, October 27, 2024 - 15:30

Duration

Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes (intermission included)

Price

Tickets range from 30€ to 60€ | Purchase here

Cast

Chenier | Angelo Villari / Michael Spadaccini

Maddalena | Maria Teresa Leva / Federica Vitali

Gerard | Angelo Veccia / Kim Gangsoon

La traviata by Giuseppe Verdi

Beginner Friendly Level: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Notes: Featured in the movie Pretty Woman, One of my personal favorite operas (I’ve seen it live 10+ times), Italian

You’ll like this if you like… Moulin Rouge, Pretty Woman, Titanic, The Fault in Our Stars, Moonstruck, Remember Me, A Star is Born

La Traviata is a tale of joy, love, heartbreak, and sorrow. From the chorus numbers (you may be familiar with the Brindisi) to the famous aria “Sempre libera” to the final act of the opera, this show promises to be a delight (and a heartbreak). Again… bring your tissues. I always cry - there’s nothing like experiencing La Traviata live.

Friday, December 6, 2024 - 20:30

Sunday, December 8, 2024 - 15:30

Duration

Approximately 3 hours (intermission included)

Price

Tickets range from 30€ to 60€ | Purchase here

Cast

Violetta Valery | Ruth Iniesta

Alfredo Germont | Paolo Lardizzone

Giorgio Germont |  Simone Piazzola

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If you get the chance to catch one of these operas in Tuscany this Fall and Winter of 2024, let me know what you think! I’ll be attending all of Maggio Musicale’s operas as I live in Firenze, so maybe I’ll see you there.

If you want to get into opera, but aren’t sure how… I hope you take a few minutes to explore @simplybelcanto, where I share bit sized clips of opera for you to learn and be exposed to a variety of operas.

Coming up soon… A list of operas in Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, and Lazio this Fall & Winter, stay tuned!

xoxo

i met jeff goldblum… and moved to italy!

Yes, you read that right. I met Jeff Goldblum just strolling down the street in beautiful Firenze. I didn’t even notice it was him at first! I was admiring his outfit and thought to myself “what a stylish man”. I looked at his face, he was wearing a black hat and these bulky sunglasses, and thought “wow, he looks like Jeff Goldblum!”. As we continued to walk down the street, I saw the man continuously check his phone and look back.

Oh my god. It actually was JEFF GOLDBLUM.

His eyes were aimed at the store just ahead and I knew my moment was fleeting. I love Jeff Goldblum and his work - from all his iconic movies and his jazz albums! Yes, Jeff Goldblum is also a jazz pianist - doesn’t that just make sense? Here’s one of my favorite songs of his - My Baby Just Cares…

Anyway, back to calming my heart down before meeting Jeff. I told myself “SCARLETT, THIS IS YOUR ONE OPPORTUNITY”. And so as calmly as possible, I crossed the street. Jeff was about to open the door, and just before he did, I said “man, you are so stylish". He promptly turns around and says “why thank you”. The next few minutes were a wonderful conversation. He asked me what I was doing in this beautiful city. Once I told him I was an opera singer, he started singing…

Caro mio ben.

I am not joking - in true Jeff Goldblum fashion - he starting singing the classic 24 Italian Songs & Arias to me. Was I dreaming? I had to take a picture, of course, to memorialize this moment.

me & jeff :)

Of course, as I am taking the picture, he is still singing Caro mio ben. In true Jeff Goldblum fashion.

Then, I told him “You know I truly love all your work, but my favorite thing of yours are your jazz albums”.

Side note: I love opera, but I also truly love music theatre and jazz. In fact, I loved both of those before I loved opera. When I’m not searching for clips for SBC, you can find me listening to jazz 70% of time. Chet Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, Herb Ellis, Julie London to name a few…

Jeff Goldblum: “Really?! Well, I’m having a concert here in a few weeks, you should come! I hope there are still tickets.”

Me: “Here in Firenze?!”

Jeff Goldblum: “Yeah… on the 20th or something *proceeds to open his phone and show me the promo poster from Instagram* Look here!”

Me: “This was fate!!”

We parted ways shortly after, but god I was so giddy and excited! Especially since it was the start of my birthday week so I felt like the universe was like “here you go”!

I’ll be at the concert this week :)

All in all to say, I’ve moved to the beautiful historic city of FLORENCE!

I am so lucky to be living in such a gorgeous city. Ever since I was little, I wanted to live in New York City - mostly because it’s walkable, has good food, and so many things to do and see. But now I’m in Italy, and that is even better - truly a dream come true.

Of course, Italy has it’s negatives (dealing with the Italian bureaucracy has taken some years off my life…) but so does every place. On top of it all, I am so lucky to be with a partner that is so talented to have gotten a job in this city. Garrett Evers, my fiancé and tenor, has joined the studio at Mascarade Opera! We’re here for at least a year… maybe two. I’m looking forward to seeing all of Garrett’s growth in the near future!

Ms. Lucia di Lammermeow

We also brought our kitty, Ms. Lucia di Lammermeow! She was an angel on the plane and if anyone has questions on how to get your cat from the USA to Italy, I’d be more than happy to answer.

Moving to Italy has been a true whirlwind, but now that it’s been a few weeks, I’m starting to feel more settled. I’m excited for what’s to come. I’ll update you on the concert!

xoxo

chatting with kathryn lewek

A few months ago I was so fortunate to sit down with America soprano, Kathryn Lewek, when she jumped in to sing the Four Heroines at Palm Beach Opera.

I hope you enjoy our chat where we dive into the Tales of Hoffmann, falling in love on stage, and our picks for great beginner operas.

the beginning

Sitting in my room at 6 years old, I remember listening to CDs my family gave me for my birthday. One of them was a compilation of opera hits. Un bel dì played through the speakers, and although I had no idea what was going on - I remember thinking in my little 6-year-old brain “this is beautiful”.

Now, at that time, I considered it great music to fall asleep to, but nonetheless, that CD full of Puccini and Mozart stayed with me.

And here I am, 20 years later, still thinking “this is beautiful”.

Welcome to @simplybelcanto, a page full of my favorites, full of my passions, full of my love for opera and all that comes with it.

I don’t claim to know everything nor have all the answers, but there is one thing I do know: I want to share my love of opera with you and with the world.

Join me as we explore and discover together.

Thank you for being here. Now, let’s listen to some beautiful music.