November 23rd, 2009 
Miles Stoppard The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino was the first music festival in Italy when it was founded in’33 by the Italian conductor and composer, Vittorio Gui. The festival’s first success led the event to become biennial in’37. However, after’37, it became an annual festival, except during the Second World War.
Today, the annual opera festival has become a point of reference for opera lovers in every part of the world who can experience the contemporary and forgotten operas in stunning visual displays. Ever since the end of the sixteenth century when the first operas were performed, music has played a prevalent part in Florence, which Italians appreciate a great deal.
The Teatro Comunale is where the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino opera festival is performed. Designed in’62 by Telemaco Bonaiuti, it can seat up to 2003 people who can enjoy the large stalls and two wide semi circular galleries that make up the amphitheatre. When the first opera was performed during the festival, opera lovers were presented with one of Verdi’s early productions; Nabucco. By the full name of Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi, he was one of the most influential romantic Italian composers of the’th century who spent his time performing around the world in opera houses.
Since the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino first began, it has become known on an international level as one of the most important musical festivals. The festival has attracted world attention because of its basic cultural choices that have always been maintained to the highest standard that have been at the hands of some of the greatest conductors. The conductors that have been a part of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino include the founder Vittorio Gui, Bruno Walter, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Zubin Mehta, Wilhelm Furtwngler, von Karajan and Muti. Since’85, the principle conductor has been Zubin Mehta, while the present Artistic Director is Paolo Arc
The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino 2010 program is set to include a banquet of ballet and opera productions. The opera performances include L’italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers) by Gioachino Rossini, The Cunning Little Vixen by Leo Jancek, Il campanello (The Night Bell) by Gaetano Donizetti and Adriana Lecouvreur, based on the French actress Adrienne Lecouvreue (1692-1730) by Francesco Cilea. The ballet performances that are set to bring another year of success are the revered Don Quixote and Carmen Suite.
In’33, Vittorio Gui established the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, which has grown as an international success for opera lovers throughout the world. Complete with four operas, concerts, ballets and exhibitions, Italy’s oldest opera festival takes place during the months of April, May and June. However, for those who cannot make it during those months will be pleased to know that the activity of the festival is present throughout the year.
Complete with the opera season, the concerts and ballets, as well as the summer concerts set in the stunning framework of the Boboli Gardens, the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is a constant and fulfilling occasion that offers musical delights for an international audience.
Tickets are now on sale for the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino festival 2009-2010 season.
For more information on hotels in the area please visit Hotel Florence near Maggio Musicale and click here for more information on Festivals in Florence Italy
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