Montecarlo is normally a sleepy, idyllic hill - top town, over looking the Lucca plain and surrounded by olive groves and vineyards. However, we are now into the tourist season and despite the umbrella type weather at the weekend, the rain-drenched streets surrounding the picturesque centre were lined with parked cars and the whole place had come to life. The main attraction was no doubt the wine and olive oil tasting event, always very popular with the public. However, there was also the added bonus of an opportunity to see an exhilarating production of Rossini’s opera, The Italian Girl in Algiers, performed in the teatro by the young and dynamic opera company, LuccaOpera..... read more>>>
As we approach the final moments of the Lucchese year 2014, a year that has seen such a wonderful array of musical performances, from opera to orchestral, from chamber music and recitals to jazz (not forgetting the popular summer and winter music festivals), we were recently reminded of the origins of one of the main contributors to these events,.... read more>>>
A leisurely stroll along the Lucca walls on a warm, sunny Friday afternoon along with several joggers, cyclists and those simply enjoying the passeggiata; this is one of the many delights of this beautiful medieval city. However, last Friday’s walk was more purposeful than usual, that of arriving at the Casametta San Colombano in time for a delicious aperitivo of Wine and Arias... read more>>>
Butterfly at Torre del Lago
The impressive grand open-air theatre at Torre del Lago, with seating for more than 3,000 people and with the natural back – drop of Lake Massaciuccoli, is once more the venue for the Puccini Festival. Now in it’s 60th year, one of the show pieces is a new production of Madama Butterfly, created by director and designer Renzo Giacchieri to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the work’s première in Milan in 1904… read more>>>
Opera at the Giglio of Lucca
The Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra with harpsichord conductor Riccardo Mascia and director, Julian Kovatchev did an excellent job in accompanying this demanding work, with its patter, secco recitative, a cappella part writing, and concerted ensembles. There were some lovely moments for the solo clarinet and oboe and the fast moving, scurrying string parts were well handled… read more>>>
Wagner Bicentenary Celebration in Lucca
The 200th anniversary of the birth of Richard Wagner was celebrated in style on Tuesday evening at the beautiful Chiesa dei Servi, in a Gala concert organized as part of the festival, Puccini e la sua Lucca. The performance was an all - Italian affair, given by the Lucca Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of its charismatic director, Andrea Colombini, with soloists, Francesca Patane (soprano) and Nicola Simone Mugnaini (tenor), but the music was most definitely… read more>>>
Torre Del Lago 2013
- A night at the opera -
The Puccini Festival, set against the magical backdrop of lake Massaciuccoli at Torre del Lago is once more under way. This year marks the bicentenary of Verdi’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mascagni, and as a tribute, 2013’s programme includes special productions of two of the most loved of all Italian operas; Verdi’s Rigoletto and Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana.… read more>>>
Lucca OPERA festival, Montecarlo
- I Concerti degli Angeli Custodi -
The teatro dei Rassicurati in Montecarlo, Lucca is the chosen venue for a youthful production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni on 22 & 23 June, performed under the expert baton of conductor, Jonathan Brandini… read more>>>
ASHKENAZY and the EUYO in LUCCA,
April 2013
As part of their European Spring Tour, 2013, the EUYO under the baton of their charismatic music director, Vladimir Ashkenazy, arrived in Lucca on 5 April to perform in the magnificent Romanesque basilica of San Frediano.… read more>