“LUCCA IN MUSICA” FESTIVAL ENDS WITH BEETHOVEN
Friday 6th (9 pm, Teatro Del Giglio) the “Lucca in Musica” festival ends with an all-Beethoven concert: Coriolan overture, Piano Concerto no. 3 and Symphony no. 7. Julian Kovatchev conducts the Orchestra della Toscana. Pianist is Joseph Albanian . Tickets are on sale at the Theatre (+39583 465 330).
ANFITEATRO JAZZ 2014
Sunday 8th, in Piazza dell Anfiteatro Jazz, the second year of Anfiteatro Jazz, the international festival of jazz (artistic director Renzo Cresti). Appearing is the great Enrico Rava, who will perform with Alessandro Lanzoni. Saturday 7th, preview with pupils from four schools in the province who participated in the educational project, “Sonata Di Mare”. Monday 9th, performance by Gavino Murgia’s trio (narrator Elizabeth Salvatori), on Tuesday 10th, percussionist Tony Cercola with his group plays jazz, African and Neapolitan music. Wednesday, 11th, a concert by Orchestrada ensemble ranging through a wide variety of sounds. Thursday, 12th, the Mocata – Scaglia – Fioravanti trio will develop a link between jazz and the music of Verdi and Puccini, ending on the 12th with Rosanna Casale’s concert. All events are at 9.15 pm. Free admission.
SYMPHONIC CONCERTS FOR CHORAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
In June, the 51st Sagra Musicale Lucchese (Music Festival of Lucca) comes to a close. Sunday 15th (9.15 pm, Chiesa dei Servi) there’s a choir and orchestra concert with the choir of Pisa University and the Tuscan Chamber Orchestra who will perform Handel’s Laudate pueri, Dixit Dominus and Organ Concerto Op.4 No. 3 (solo soprano Paola Cigna and mezzo-soprano Sara Bacchelli). Stefano Barandoni conducts. Sunday 22nd (9.15 pm, Chiesa di San Michele) another concert for choir and orchestra with music by Michele Puccini, T. Federighi, A. Spinelli, P. Paoli performed by the Choir of Lucca’s St. Cecilia Cathedral and the “Luigi Boccherini” chamber orchestra of Lucca (tenor soloist Tiziano Barbafiera). Luca Bacci conducts. Admission is free.
JAZZ MASTERCLASS AND CONCERT WITH NICOLA SERGIO
The “Associazione Cluster” organizes on Sunday 8th starting at 9 am , in the Auditorium of the Scuola Sinfonica (Via Nazario Sauro, 527 – Tel 0583 312052 ), a Jazz Master Class Jazz with pianist Nicola Sergio aimed at young musicians (singers and instrumentalists) who want to increase their interpretive and compositional skills in the world of jazz and improvisation. At 5.30 pm Nicola Sergio will give a concert with some students (free admission). The program also includes improvisations on themes from Giacomo Puccini. The fee for students is 30 euros while for the audience it’s 10 Euros. You can also register on the day of the master-class, via e-mail (scuola.sinfonia @ tin.it) or by calling the secretary of the Scuola Sinfonia.
DON PASQUALE AT THE TEATRO DEI RASSICURATI OF MONTE CARLO
LuccaOPERAfestival presents, from 13th to 15th June, at 8.30 pm (Teatro dei Rassicurati, Montecarlo) Donizetti’s comic masterpiece Don Pasquale. Direction is by Stefania Panighini who sets the work in a fifties-movie atmosphere. Jonathan Brandani conducts the “Bruno Maderna” chamber orchestra. Singers are Cristian Diaz (Don Pasquale), Mattia Campetti (Dr Malatesta), Francisco Brito (Ernesto) and Michelle Buscemi (Norina). Tickets (from 10 to 30 €) can be booked by sending an email to luccaoperafestival@gmail.com or by calling +39 340 5671301 from 2nd June 2014.
ROBERTO GIORDANO AT THE ANGELI CUSTODI
The international pianist Roberto Giordano will perform on Thursday 12th (9 pm) at the Oratory of the Angeli Custodi (Guardian Angels). “The Viennese piano ” is the evening’s title since, as the recital consists of works of great piano composers centred in Vienna. Ticket prices range from 5 to 12 Euros.
FESTIVAL OF EASTER AND PENTECOST 2014
“English World”, in collaboration with the Puccini & la sua Lucca festival is organizing a series of concerts: in the church of San Giovanni, Tuesday 3rd a concert entitled “Love in Opera” for soprano, tenor and piano; Thursday 5th “Gabrieli Brass” (brass sextet) perform music by Mozart, Rossini, Rota, Piazzolla and Mancini.
In the Chiesa dei Servi the Lucca Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Andrea Colombini, performs, on Monday 2nd, the traditional coronation concert (anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of England). Music by Elgar, Handel, Purcell, Grainger, Arne, Vaughan Williams with the participation of various soloists and chorus ; Thursday 11th a “Mozart Gala” with the Symphony no. 36 K 425 “Linz”, overtures and arias from The Magic Flute , Zaide , The Abduction from the Seraglio. All concerts start at 9.30 pm.
CHORUS OF NORTH DAKOTA ON TOUR IN ITALY
Monday, 16th at 9 pm, at the San Romano auditorium , the Minot Heritage Singers of North Dakota , on tour in Italy, celebrating 40 years as a choir, will present a popular program of sacred and spiritual music . The concert will be preceded by a performance by the “Puntaccapo,” Lucca choir conducted by Guido Masini, who will host the American choir with his swing and pop repertoire. Free admission
VISITS TO PUCCINI MUSEUMS
Sunday 1st there will be a visit to the Puccini museums with guided tours of the three museums ( Puccini Museum- Birth House in Lucca , Puccini House in Celle dei Puccini , Villa Museo Puccini in Torre del Lago Puccini ) which preserve memories of the composer, his family and his music . The fee of € 45 includes transfer by private bus – Celle- Lucca -Lucca Torre del Lago, guide during the itinerary, entrance to museums with guided tour, lunch at the restaurant. Meet at 9 am in Piazza Cittadella (where the Puccini statue is in Lucca).
Information and reservations: Puccini Museum – Birthplace, Lucca. Phone +39583 584028 info@puccinimuseum.it
BIG CONCERT FOR NEW TROLLS
An event of great interest will be held on Saturday, June 21st at 9 pm in the Church of St. Francis: Concerto Grosso per I New Trolls, created by composer Luis Enriquez Bacalov and published for the first time with this title in 1971 as the third album of the famous band formed in the 60s. The performance will have the New Trolls, accompanied by the Symphonic Orchestra of the “L. Boccherini” musical institute conducted by GianPaolo Mazzoli, with Elisabetta Garetti, violinist and concertmaster of the Orchestra of the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa. The UT New Trolls will include, in addition to the “survivors” of the original group, Gianni Belleno (drums) and Maurizio Salvi (keyboards, piano), Claudio Cinquegrana, Andrea Lavelli, Umberto Dada and Stefano Genti.
FRANCIGENA INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL
The Altopascio “Francesco Geminiani” music academy organizes for the fourth consecutive year, “Francigena International Arts Festival – FIAF” to be held from June 14th until August 30th in places on the Tuscan route of the Via Francigena: from Camaiore to Monteriggioni, concentrating most of the events between Lucca and Altopascio.
Saturday, June 14th at 6.30 pm, in the Auditorium S. Francesco at Lucca, the inaugural concert titled “Music from the Francigena” with the Orchestra of the “L. Boccherini” music institute includes music by Gibbons, St. George and Puccini. Monday 16th at 9.15 pm Ademollo Hall of Lucca’s Palazzo Ducale , an evening with Rio Americano Concert and Jazz band while on June 28, at the Basilica of St. Paolino, the Wind Orchestra of the “P. Mascagni “in Livorno perform Mozart’s Grand Partita K 361. Monday 30th (location to be determined), a recital by the well-known pianist Daniel Rivera. Artistic direction by Fabrizio Datteri. Full billboard on: www.francigenafestival.it
“ALFREDO CATALANI” CIRCLE OF FRIENDS OF MUSIC
The “A. Catalani”, Circle of Friends of Music is organizing an opera concert for Lucca’s section of the Italian Parkinson’s association. The event will be held on Sunday, June 1st at 9.15 pm in the Auditorium in Piazza Suffragio. The star of the evening is the bass Carlo Colombara and other renowned artists, accompanied on the piano by Laura Pasqualetti. Music by Verdi, Puccini and Rossini will be presented by Daniel Rubboli. Tickets € 10.
Friday, June 20th at 9.15 pm, in the Cloister of San Micheletto, is the seventh “Premio Città di Lucca Alfredo Catalani” award given annually to those who have contributed most to music and culture. The prize this year will be awarded to Maria Pacini Fazzi, owner of the historic Luccan publishing house. Following is a concert, “First the words, then the music,” starring Alessandra Gioia, soprano, Margherita Tani, mezzo-soprano, Marco Brinzi, narrator, Laura Pasqualetti, piano. Introduction by Daniele Rubboli. Music by Handel, Mozart, Rossini, Cimarosa, Boito, Verdi, Puccini and Offenbach. Free admission with reservations required. Tel number: 347 9951581.
CONCERTS BY THE PUCCINI CHOIR CAMIGLIANO
“The places and songs of Marian devotion” is the title of the concert which will be held on Sunday, June 8th at 9 pm in the church of S. Maria Corteorlandini (S. Maria Nera). The “G. Puccini” choir from Camigliano conducted by Luigi Della Maggiora will open the evening with music by Arcadelt , De Victoria, De Marzi, Maiero. The evening’s guests of honour, the VoxAlia ensemble, conducted by Livio Picotti, will present a program of deep spirituality and devotion. Thursday, June 12th at 9 pm in Camigliano, as part of the “Voices from the World” festival, with the sponsorship of Capannori, the “Kherokee County School Choir ” Atlanta (Georgia – USA) will present polyphonic, spirituals and traditional American pieces. The “Puccini” choir will open the evening with religious and popular songs. Admission is free.
SINGING CONTEST “A VOICE – A SONG”
Launch of the second International Singing Competition of the City of Porcari: “A voice – a song” in collaboration with the Municipality of Porcari (Department of Culture) , Luccacittà.net , Az Music, with the patronage of the Province of Lucca, Porcari, Associazione Lucchesi nel Mondo , Cavanis Foundation and various sponsors.
Until Tuesday, June 10th you will be able to enter the competition: application forms can be downloaded from the website www.comune.porcari.lu.it; phone information at 334 3308960. The competition will be judged behind closed door on June 14th from 2.30 pm at the Cavanis Auditorium Porcari in the presence of a jury. The final, open to the public, will be held on Saturday at 9 pm in Piazza Felice Orsi, Porcari and will be presented by Tommaso Giusti and Ilaria della Bidia.
ON THE PATHS OF MUSIC
Monday, June 30th at 9pm the Church of St. Maria Corteorlandini (S. Maria Nera) will host a concert by the “Bucks County Women’s Chorus” (see photo) from Philadelphia (Pennsylvania – USA), conducted by Patricia Guth and accompanied on the piano by John Gilmour. As usual, the vocal group of Lucca “Il Baluardo “ conducted by Elio Antichi will welcome the American singers with a vocal performance. The event is included in the program of the “… On the paths of music,” festival, now in its 12th year. Admission is free.
FESTIVAL OF YOUTH ORCHESTRA
The thirteenth International Festival of Youth Orchestras continues with a concert on Friday, June 13th at 9 pm in the Chiesa dei Servi. The Lucca vocal group “The Il Baluardo” will host the “Fort Worth Youth Orchestra” from Texas. The American Orchestra, conducted by Willa Dunleavv and Germàn Gutiérrez, will present music by Verdi, Villa Lobos, Piazzolla, Beethoven, Bizet, Dvorak and, Elgar. At the beginning of the evening, the choir, conducted by Elio Antichi, perform works by Fabrizi, John Lennon and Sting. Admission is free.
OPEN BOCCHERINI – TALENTS IN CONCERT
The “L. Boccherini” music institute will dedicate the month of June to its best students. Wednesday, 11th at 9 pm there will be a ceremony and concert of scholarship winners sponsored by the Loggia Francesco Burlamacchi n. 1113 all’Oriente di Lucca
The last weekend of June the Performances Boccherini, will be held where the best students perform in a public recital, presenting themselves to Lucca as young and talented future professionals. These are the performers in the piano recitals: Vincenza Cavaliere (June 27th, 9 pm), Alessia Lorenzetti (June 28th, 6 pm), Serafino Carli, (June 28th, 9 pm), Alice Lapasin Zorzit (June 29, 9 pm).
All events will be held in the Auditorium of the “Boccherini” Institute in Piazza del Suffragio. Free entry. Full programme at: www.boccherini.it
Article by Francis Pettitt