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!
Florence, Italy
˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗
Florence, Italy ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗
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.
Pisa, Italy
˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗
Pisa, Italy ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗
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
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
