The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (English: Florence Musical May) is an annual Italian arts festival in Florence, including a notable opera festival, under the auspices of the Opera di Firenze. The festival occurs between late April into June annually, typically with four operas.
In April 1933, on Luigi Ridolfi Vay da Verrazzano's idea, Vittorio Gui founded the festival, with the aim of presenting contemporary and forgotten operas in visually dramatic productions. It was the first music festival in Italy and the oldest in Europe after the Salzburg Festival.[1] The first opera presented was Verdi's early Nabucco, his early operas then being rarely staged. The first festival's success, which included two performances of Spontini's La Vestale with Rosa Ponselle, led to it becoming a biennial event in 1937 with the presentation of nine operas. After 1937, it became an annual festival, except during World War II. Performances took place in the Teatro Comunale and Piccolo Teatro, plus the Teatro della Pergola. A new opera house, the Teatro dell'Opera di Firenze, was inaugurated in 2011 and permanently replaced the former Teatro Comunale in 2014.
Former musical directors were Vittorio Gui (1928-1936), Mario Rossi (1937-1946), Bruno Bartoletti (1957-1964), and Riccardo Muti (1969-1981). Zubin Mehta became principal conductor in 1985, and now has the title of honorary conductor for life. In January 2016, the Opera di Firenze announced the appointment of Fabio Luisi as music director of the festival, the first conductor to hold that title, as of April 2018, with an initial contract of 5 years.[2] In July 2019, Luisi resigned as music director of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino with immediate effect.[3] In July 2021, the festival announced the appointment of Daniele Gatti as its next principal conductor, effective March 2022, with an initial contract of 3 years.[4]
^"PERCHÉ IL MAGGIO È IL MAGGIO?" (in Italian). Retrieved 26 October 2022.
^"Fabio Luisi Named as Music Director Designate of Florence's Opera di Firenze and Maggio Musicale Fiorentino". Opera News. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
^Fulvio Paloscia (17 July 2019). "Firenze, Teatro del Maggio Musicale: lascia anche Fabio Luisi". La Repubblica. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
^"Il maestro Daniele Gatti designato direttore principale del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino" (Press release). Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
SourcesEdit
Lynn, Karyl Charna, Italian Opera Houses and Festivals, Lanham, Maryland: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2005. ISBN0-8108-5359-0
External linksEdit
Official website of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
maggio, musicale, fiorentino, english, florence, musical, annual, italian, arts, festival, florence, including, notable, opera, festival, under, auspices, opera, firenze, festival, occurs, between, late, april, into, june, annually, typically, with, four, oper. The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino English Florence Musical May is an annual Italian arts festival in Florence including a notable opera festival under the auspices of the Opera di Firenze The festival occurs between late April into June annually typically with four operas Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 Sources 5 External linksHistory EditIn April 1933 on Luigi Ridolfi Vay da Verrazzano s idea Vittorio Gui founded the festival with the aim of presenting contemporary and forgotten operas in visually dramatic productions It was the first music festival in Italy and the oldest in Europe after the Salzburg Festival 1 The first opera presented was Verdi s early Nabucco his early operas then being rarely staged The first festival s success which included two performances of Spontini s La Vestale with Rosa Ponselle led to it becoming a biennial event in 1937 with the presentation of nine operas After 1937 it became an annual festival except during World War II Performances took place in the Teatro Comunale and Piccolo Teatro plus the Teatro della Pergola A new opera house the Teatro dell Opera di Firenze was inaugurated in 2011 and permanently replaced the former Teatro Comunale in 2014 Former musical directors were Vittorio Gui 1928 1936 Mario Rossi 1937 1946 Bruno Bartoletti 1957 1964 and Riccardo Muti 1969 1981 Zubin Mehta became principal conductor in 1985 and now has the title of honorary conductor for life In January 2016 the Opera di Firenze announced the appointment of Fabio Luisi as music director of the festival the first conductor to hold that title as of April 2018 with an initial contract of 5 years 2 In July 2019 Luisi resigned as music director of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino with immediate effect 3 In July 2021 the festival announced the appointment of Daniele Gatti as its next principal conductor effective March 2022 with an initial contract of 3 years 4 See also EditList of opera festivalsReferences Edit PERCHE IL MAGGIO E IL MAGGIO in Italian Retrieved 26 October 2022 Fabio Luisi Named as Music Director Designate of Florence s Opera di Firenze and Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Opera News 28 January 2016 Retrieved 2018 06 06 Fulvio Paloscia 17 July 2019 Firenze Teatro del Maggio Musicale lascia anche Fabio Luisi La Repubblica Retrieved 2020 05 22 Il maestro Daniele Gatti designato direttore principale del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Press release Maggio Musicale Fiorentino 8 July 2021 Retrieved 2021 07 16 Sources EditLynn Karyl Charna Italian Opera Houses and Festivals Lanham Maryland The Scarecrow Press Inc 2005 ISBN 0 8108 5359 0External links EditOfficial website of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino nbsp This article about an opera company or opera festival is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maggio Musicale Fiorentino amp oldid 1166415945, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
