The Teatro Comunale originated in the Florentine Politeama, which was designed in 1862 by Telemaco Bonaiuti, an open arena over which the present structure was built. It seats 2003 people and is made up of a large stalls section, and two wide semi-circular galleries giving the impression of an amphitheatre. Near the main auditorium is the Piccolo Teatro, a small, modern theatre seating approximately 600 spectators. Partially destroyed twice, in the bombing of 1944 and in the flood of 1966, the Comunale was quickly rebuilt, symbolizing the determination of the citizens to re-emerge and demonstrating its loyalty to the city

The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino was founded in 1933 by Vittorio Gui; it is the oldest Italian music festival and, on an international level, one of the most important. Although it started on a triennial basis, by 1937 it had already become an annual event and one of the most popular music pilgrimages. Since it began the Maggio Festival has attracted world attention for the basic cultural choices which it envisages and has always maintained: in the first place the problems related to the visual element in opera, for which the greatest theatrical and film producers of our times have been called upon, as well as a considerable number of famous painters and sculptors as costume and set designers.

Secondly there has been constant curiosity for the music of the twentieth century, from the first avant garde compositions to more recent experiences, through the active participation of the composers themselves. This has been accompanied by the rediscovery of works and composers of the past. Finally, there has been the constant presence of great interpreters: conductors, soloists and singers, indispensable for the realization of such ambitious projects and who, thanks to the new productions and innovative sets, have allowed genuine re-readings of the scores of the traditional operas. If the festival takes up the months of May and June, the activity of the theatre goes on all year round, with its opera season, its concerts and ballets, and the summer concerts in the magnificent and suggestive framework of the Boboli Gardens: a constant and varied offer of musical occasions for an international, exacting and qualified audience.

TEATRO COMUNALE EVENTS/CONCERTS 2009

JANUARY
January 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th - GISELLE
January 15th, 16th 17th and 18th  - SERATA FOKIE
January 23rd Incontro Meneguzzer

January 28th, 30th and 31st - Incontro Lucia di Lammermoor

FEBRUARY
February 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR
February 11th Incontro i Pagliacci

February 14th, 15th, 17th, 19th I PAGLIACCI

February 21st and 22nd, Ono Arciuli

February 27th BOREYKO

MARCH

March 1st BOREYKO
March 6th and 8th,  DENEVE - ANDERSZEWSKI

March 13th and 15th R. ABBADO

March 20th and 21st CARYDIS - STEINBACHER

March 31st METHA

APRIL

April 1st METHA

April 29th GOTTERDAMMERUNG

MAY

Mat 2nd LANG LANG

May 3rd GOTTERDAMMERUNG

May 5th MACBETH

May 6th GOTTERDAMMERUNG and MACBETH

May 7th MACBETH

May 8th METHA and MACBETH

May 9th GOTTERDAMMERUNG and MACBETH

May 10th MACBETH

May 19th, 20th and 21st Il Rosso e il Nero

May 22nd Patto di Sangue

May 23rd Il Rosso e il Nero

May 24th Patto di Sangue and Salonen Philarmonic Orchestra

May 26th Patto di Sangue

JUNE

June 4th, 5th. 6th, 8th, 9th and 10th MACBETH

June 11th and 12th Il Trionfo del Tempo

June 23rd, 25th 27th and 29th Billy Budd

JULY

July 1st Gala di danza

July 2nd Closing Concert

To receive any additional information about the events at the Teatro Comunale of Florence or about the Maggio Fiorentino, or to book tickets for any of the concerts, operas and ballets indicated above please contact our concierge: Valentina