“BARGA AND PUCCINI”: THE EVENT CALENDAR CELEBRATING THE CENTENARY OF THE DEATH OF THE MASTER FROM LUCCA AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BARGA AREA
Barga, March 2, 2024 – Barga and Puccini: a distant relationship that, on the centenary of the Master’s death, will find full consecration thanks to the schedule of events and appointments developed by the municipal administration of Barga led by Caterina Campani, with the sponsorship of the Tuscany Region – Regional Council, Province of Lucca, National Committee for Puccini Celebrations, Giacomo Puccini Foundation, Simonetta Puccini Foundation for Giacomo Puccini. A calendar that has involved all the cultural realities of the territory. Throughout 2024, numerous events are scheduled, including concerts, shows, presentations, and exhibitions, capable of highlighting every aspect of Barga’s cultural life with the goal of honoring the art and musical genius of the Master from Lucca and, in addition to this, retracing Puccini’s relationship with Barga, with particular reference to his bond with Giovanni Pascoli.
“We are very happy and proud to present this calendar that involves the entire Barga territory, and not only, arising from the synergy between various entities and many local associations,” explains Mayor Caterina Campani. “We immediately decided to join the celebrations for the centenary of Giacomo Puccini’s death, proposing something unique and absolutely festive. The entire territory is involved, even for the first time in the history of this municipality we will organize a mega concert dedicated to Puccini inside a factory, the KME. Everything moves from two essential elements: on one hand, to narrate and remember the bond that united Puccini and Pascoli, two fundamental characters for Italian history and our territory; on the other hand, to once again highlight the widespread cultural ferment that runs through Barga.”
THE PROGRAM. It begins on March 19, at 9 pm at the Gli Incartati Library in Fornaci di Barga, with “Giacomo Puccini narrates himself on the centenary of his death” where Massimo Salotti will speak. It continues on April 5, at 9 pm at the Teatro dei Differenti in Barga, with “The other Giacomo” by and starring Renato Raimo, the show that is part of the theater’s prose season. Space for music on April 16, at 6 pm at the City Chambers – City of Glasgow, with the “Puccini Rhapsody Concert”, organized by the Association of Lucchesi in the World. On April 27, again at 9 pm at the Teatro dei Differenti in Barga, “Antique Rose: the women of Puccini” will be staged, by the 50&Plus Association. The program continues then with the Unitre Barga conference titled “Wait a moment, madam… I will tell you in a few words who I am…”, on May 2, at 5 pm at the Barga Jazz Club headquarters in Barga, with speaker Massimo Salotti. Another appointment at the Teatro dei Differenti in Barga, on May 19 at 5:30 pm, with “Puccinian Postcard Madama Butterfly”, by the Boccherini Conservatory of Lucca. On June 2, at 9 pm at the KME Industry Headquarters in Fornaci di Barga, the “Puccini Gala: tribute to master Giacomo Puccini on the centenary of his death” will take place. The summer appointments continue on July 11, at 9 pm at the Volta dei Menchi in Barga, with the presentation of the book “Giacomo Puccini: family, friends, loves” by Giampiero Della Nina. The event is part of the Tra le righe Festival of Barga. More space for music and concerts on August 8, at 9 pm in Piazza Galletto in Barga, with the concert from the window “…thinking of Sor Giacomo….and the women!”, the duo piano four hands that will see on stage the two musicians M. Baiocchi and A. Pivato. The program continues on August 11, at 5 pm at Santo Lake, with the “Concert with Puccinian pieces” by the Serchio delle Muse. The autumn appointments kick off on October 6, at 4 pm at the Teatro dei Differenti in Barga, with the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to Giacomo Puccini. On October 19, again at 4 pm at the Teatro dei Differenti in Barga, the “G. Pascoli – The hour of Barga” poetry prize will be held, with interludes dedicated to Puccini.
THE FOUNDATIONS. The schedule of appointments also involves four foundations of the territory: Ricci Foundation, Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca Foundation, Pascoli Foundation, and Banca del Monte di Lucca Foundation. At the Ricci Foundation, from July 6 to August 31, there will be the exhibition “The sweet life at the time of Giovanni Pascoli and Giacomo Puccini. Documentary and photographic journey in the homes of two great protagonists of Italian culture” while, on September 21 at 5 pm, the Puccinian Music Concert will take place, by the Serchio delle Muse. The Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca Foundation, in the San Micheletto Complex, will open its doors, from May 25 to June 30, to “Puccini, Pascoli, and Caselli, a beautiful friendship”. Triple initiative at the Pascoli Foundation: on April 6 and 7, at the Pascoli House Museum, it will be possible to visit the exhibition “Artist’s Papers – Itinerary among the Puccinian documents preserved at the Pascoli House Archive; from May 4 to August 31, always at the Pascoli House Museum, there will be the painting exhibition “Notes on the margins – Puccini and Pascoli”, curated by Sandra Rigali; on August 10, at 9 pm in the garden of Pascoli House, there is a planned evening tribute to Pascoli dedicated to Giacomo Puccini. Finally, the Banca del Monte di Lucca Foundation, at the Exhibition Palace, from December 6, 2024, to January 26, 2025, will open its doors to “Tribute to Maestro Puccini”, works by Sandra Rigali and Luca Paparo.
The calendar is a collaboration between the Municipality of Barga, Tuscany Region, Province of Lucca, City of Glasgow, National Committee for Puccini Celebrations, Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca Foundation, Banca del Monte di Lucca Foundation, Ricci Foundation, Giovanni Pascoli Foundation, Association of Lucchesi in the World, Giacomo Puccini Foundation Lucca, Simonetta Puccini Foundation for Giacomo Puccini, Exhibition Palace, Lucca Development Foundation, Tuscany Show Foundation non-profit, “L. Boccherini” Music Conservatory, Barga Jazz Club,
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