Over the past few years, the dance scene in Florence has flourished greatly and nowadays full length classical and contemporary productions can be seen all over the city. The Maggio Danza performs primarily at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, while modern work is generally produced either by the Virgilio Sieni Dance Company, or the Florence Dance Company among others (see below).
Venues:
Teatro Cantiere Florida
Via Pisana 111
Tel: 055 713 1783
Website: Teatro Cantiere Florida
Open: Telephone bookings only 9am-1pm, 3-6pm Mon - Fri
This spacious theatre is actually an ex-cinema and features a wide stage and orginal brick walls. One of the theatres main objectives is to promote the talents of young actors, directors and scriptwriters, to a primarily young audience, the main reason why many of the productions are specifically targeted at children. Such performances include 'Red Riding Hood', 'Pinocchio' and 'Peter Pan'.
Opera
Music and Opera
Florence can claim a couple of musical firsts. Not only was the first piano invented in the city, by Bartolomeo Crostoferi, but also the first ever opera, Daphne, was performed here in 1598, at the home of Jacopo Corsi. Unfortunately the score is no longer available and Florence has done nothing to keep its memory alive!!
Today's opera season opens in September and is held chiefly at the:
Teatro Comunale - Il Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Corso Italia 16
Tel: 055 213 535
Bookings: 199 109 910 (9am-9-30pm Mon-Fri, 9am-3.30pm
Box Office: 10am- 4.30pm Tues-Fri, 10am- 1pm Sat, & 1 hour before performance starts.
Website: Teatro Comunale
The Teatro Comunale was originally the Politeama Fiorentino, designed by Telemaco Bonaiutiin 1862, an open air arena. Nowadays, the Comunale comprises a huge auditorium, a single tier of boxes and two large amphitheatres - like semicircular galleries that can seat about 2000 people. The Piccolo Teatro of the Comunale, situated on one side of the main auditorium, is a really up-to-date "small theatre", capable of seating about 600 spectators.
Performing Arts
Music: theatre and opera
Florence is a city with a rich musical history and in its heyday round about the early 17th century, under the rule of the famous Medici family, it was one of the most diverse music centres in Europe. Florence still has a lively classic music scene and you should not miss out on the chance to go to one of the operas. There are also many chamber and symphonic concerts on too. Smaller events tend to be promoted more by posters and in local papers or specific lsiting magazines such as Firenze Spettacolo and Florence Today (publications distributed twice a month). From June to October there are concerts in churches, and outdoor concerts in villas, gardens and museums, some being free as well. They are not always well advertised, but tourist offices do usually have up-to-date information.
Theatre in Florence
Theatre
The theatre season runs from September/ October into April/May, which is not to say that Florence comes to a standstill then, but many of the main stages stay quiet while more festive cultural events take the centre piece. Most performances are conducted in Italian, so a good understanding of the language is vital (if you want to understand it that is!) Performances are typically productions of classic Italian dramas or foreign plays in translation, interspersed with the occasional contemporary production. The Teatro della Pergola and the Teatro Verdi are the two chief venues for drama in Florence:
Teatro della Pergola
Via della Pergola 12-32
Tel: 055 22641 or 055 226 4316
Established in 1656 this exquisite and very intimate theatre is one of the oldest in the whole of Italy. Richly and ornately decorated with red and gold fabrics and three layers of boxes, it serves as the perfect location for chamber music and small scale operas. Most of the Amici della Musica chamber concerts are held here, while the Teatro Comunale also uses it for the Maggio festival. Performances from the Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina (Florentine Chamber Orchestra), season also runs here from March to October.
"Over the past few years, the dance scene in Florence has flourished greatly and nowadays full length classical and contemporary productions can be seen all over the city. The Maggio Danza performs primarily at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, while modern work is generally ..."
"Dance Companies
Compagnia Virgilio Sieni Danza
Via San Romano 13
Tel: 055 655 7435
This avant-garde dance company is directed and choreographed by dancer Virgilio Sieni and is one of the few dance companies in Florence to have gained international fame. More ..."
"Florence can claim a couple of musical firsts. Not only was the first piano invented in the city, by Bartolomeo Crostoferi, but also the first ever opera, Daphne, was performed here in 1598, at the home of Jacopo Corsi. Unfortunately the score is no longer available and Florence has done nothing to ..."
"The theatre season runs from September/ October into April/May, which is not to say that Florence comes to a standstill then, but many of the main stages stay quiet while more festive cultural events take the centre piece. Most performances are conducted in Italian, so a good understanding ..."
