November Music

As usual now I’ll include a post on music events coming up in Lucca and its province during November. In a month, not particularly noted for a plethora of events there are several good things. I’m especially keen to attend the San Francesco silent film screening with musical accompaniment and both the comemmorative Masses for Puccini and Catalani respectively sound interesting. And then there’s Carmen too!

BOCCHERINI OPEN

GREAT MUSICAL ANNIVERSARIES

Great music anniversaries is the title of a concert on Saturday, November 23rd at 6 pm in the auditorium of Piazza del Suffragio for the start of the Boccherini music institute’s new academic year.

Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner, born two hundred years ago and Benjamin Britten, born one hundred years ago will feature in this important event. The Boccherini music institute’s orchestra, conducted by Egisto Matteucci, perform Britten’s Simple Symphony, Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, the aria Ella giammai m’amò from Don Carlo (baritone Roberto Lorenzi ) and the overture from Verdi’s Nabucco. The Boccherini music institute’s choir, trained by Sara Matteucci, will sing the famous chorus Va pensiero.  Admission is free. Info: http://www.boccherini.it

THE MUSIC FESTIVAL ENDS IN THE NAME OF PUCCINI

From 27th to 29th November there will be three musical days dedicated to Puccini organized by the Sagra Musicale Lucchese and the Fondazione Giacomo Puccini. Wednesday 27th (9 pm, Casermetta di San Colombano) a conference Michele Puccini: the man, the scholar, the composer with Gabriella Biagi Ravenni and Luca Bacci. Thursday 28th (4.30 pm Casermetta di San Colombano) a conference on Giacomo Puccini, smoking, motorcars, diseases and remedies (effective or not) with Luca Berni. Friday 29^th, a double appointment: at 4 pm guided tour of the Puccini Museum – book by phoning 0583 584028, at  6 pm (St. Martin’s Cathedral) Mass in memory of Giacomo Puccini, with the Chapel of Santa Cecilia conducted by Luca Bacci and organist Giulia Biagetti.

THE FESTIVAL OF SPRING AND UNRELEASED TRACKS OF THE “CLUSTER” COMPOSERS

The Cluster association continues its series of contemporary music with a concert in the auditorium of the Fondazione Banca del Monte di Lucca on Thursday 7th with Aldo Brizzi (electronics) and Reis (vocals) who will play traditional and popular music from Brazil in classical guise. Friday 15th (Oratory of the Guardian Angels (Angeli Custodi)) Rossella Spinosa and Alessandro Calcagnile will play Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring one hundred years after its first performance. The piece will be introduced by the two artists. Thursday 21st (Auditorium Fondazione BML) Renzo Cresti will present the new CD by Stefano Giannotti the Giardino dinincantato with live performance of most of the songs. Finally, on Saturday 30 (Oratory of the Guardian Angels – Angeli custodi) a tribute by some of the Cluster group composers (F. Cipriano , G. Deraco , M. Fabbri , F. Favali , G. Lazzarini) to Verdi and Wagner with previously unreleased tracks . All concerts are at 9 pm. Free admission

REQUIEM FOR PUCCINI

Friday 29th at 9.15 pm the Santa Felicita choir  at the San Romano Auditorium will sing in a  concert of sacred music titled Requiem for Puccini , on the 89th anniversary of the composer’s death. The program includes the Messa da Requiem by Lorenzo Perosi, first performed in Rome on January 19th 1925 at Puccini’s solemn state funeral, the Requiem Puccini composed for Verdi, the Motet for St. Paulinus by Puccini and the intermezzo from Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana. Choirs participating include the Santa Felicita choir of Lucca and the Bruno Pizzi choir from Pisa, the bass Graziano Polidori with a group of soloists from his school , the “New Europe ” orchestra from Florence. Artistic Director Graziano Polidori. Chorus master: Silvano Pieruccini. Conductor: Alan Freiles. Admission is free.

SILENT FILM AND ORGAN IMPROVISATION IN SAN FRANCESCO

Thursday 7th (9.15 pm) the Domenico di Lorenzo association concludes the “Lucca Comics and organs” concert season with a show in the church of San Francesco sponsored by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca. There will be a screening of the silent film Settimo Cielo by Frank Borzage from 1927 with organ improvisation by Edoardo Bellotti (see photo), organist, harpsichordist and musicologist , among the best-known and appreciated experts in Renaissance and Baroque repertoire. The show, produced in collaboration with the “Ezekiel 25.17″ Cineforum, will be presented by Pier Dario Marzi and has free admission subject to availability.

MUSICAL ENCOUNTERS AT THE THEATRE

The encounters resume in November with four concerts dedicated to ancient and contemporary music. Sunday 10th at 5.30 pm, at the Teatro Colombo Valdottavo, a concert given by the Tuscany Regional Network of flutes with music by Bach, Bonn, Handel and Boncompagni. On November 17th, at the Teatro Colombo at 5.30 pm, pianist Simone Soldiers will perform music by Mozart, Brahms, Schumann and Chopin. Sunday 24th at the Church of San Francesco di Borgo a Mozzano, at 4.30 pm composer Girolamo Deraco meets the public to discuss “composing today.” This is followed at 5.30 pm by a guitar concert given by the Giacomo Brunini and Dario Atzori duo who will perform a world premiere of music by Deraco and music by Rossini-Giuliani, Sor, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Granados and Gnattali. Entrance ticket € 8 (€ 5 for students). Booking: stagione.concerti.valdottavo@gmail.com; info: http://www.scmsalotti-borgoamozzano.it.

MOZART, COSI FAN TUTTE

The Cultural Association of the Scompiglio di Vorno, conducted by Cecilia Bertoni, presents “Mozart’s Così fan tutte”, a project revolving around the great composer from Salzburg with concerts taking place until June 2014 at the Scompiglio. Antonio Caggiano is artistic director. The programming of the festival is spread along three lines: Mozart operas, works of composers from different eras dedicated to Mozart and ‘experiments’ by artists from diverse musical areas that are contrasted with Mozart’s soundscape. The events open on November 30th at 9 pm with a concert given by the Sentieri Selvaggi ensemble conducted by Carlo Boccadoro, with music by Filippo Del Corno, Arvo Pärt, Gavin Bryars, Charles Goldmund, Michael Torke and Carlo Galante. Tickets cost € 12 (reduced € 7). Info: http://www.delloscompiglio.org

ALFREDO CATALANI CIRCLE OF FRIENDS MUSIC

The Catalani club presents, on Sunday 10th at 5.30, in the church of Santa Maria Corte Orlandini, a Thanksgiving Mass with Gregorian chant, and polyphonic choral work of the fourteenth century sung by the Cantus Anthime choir conducted by Livio Picotti. After the religious ceremony, there will be a convivial meeting at the Puccini restaurant to celebrate thirty years of activity. Additionally, at the San Luca Palace, the club presents a series of three events dedicated to Pietro Mascagni at 9 pm: Friday 15th screening of the film Melodie Immortali (1952). Roberto Del Nista introduces on Friday 22^nd a lecture and debate “Mascagni, who was he?” curated by Alberto Paloscia. Saturday 30^th, a concert “Remembering Mascagni” introduced by Alberto Paloscia. Information and reservations 347 9951581.

“IL BALUARDO” CELEBRATES THE FIVE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF LUCCA’S WALLS

Il Baluardo vocal group in Lucca celebrates five hundred years of Lucca’s walls with a concert on Sunday, November 10th at 5 pm in the Tobino Hall of the Palazzo Ducale. Free entry. The choir will perform songs from popular Tuscan, Italian and international repertoires, and will be accompanied on the guitar by Gabriele Cinquini and percussionist Joseph Favia, all conducted by Elio Ancients. After this, Il Baluardo continues with other events: Saturday 16th there is a dinner while on Tuesday 19^th there is an “open test” at the choir’s headquarters (Via del Colletto 115 – Massa Pisana). For information call 348 2334867.

IMAGES AND SONGS OF MEMORY

On Monday, the 4^th, in the auditorium of the ASL of Capannori, at the social and health centre, at 9 pm there will be an evening entitled “Images and songs of memory”. The program includes images of the two world wars and traditional Alpine songs sung by the Pizzorne di Camigliano choir conducted by Luigi Della Maggiora. Admission is free.

CARMEN INAUGURATES THE OPERA SEASON

On Saturday, November 23rd, at 8.30 pm, (repeated Sunday 24^th at 4 pm), Bizet’s Carmen opens the opera season at the Teatro Del Giglio. Charles Goldstein conducts the Orchestra della Toscana, with the Coro della Toscana conducted by Marco Bargagna and the children’s choir of the Fondazione Teatro Goldoni conducted by Marisol Caballo. The main roles of the opera (Don Jose, Carmen and Escamillo) will be sung by Agata Bienkowska (23rd Nov), Annnunziata Vestri (24th Nov), Mickael Spadaccini (23rd) and Dario Di Vietri (24th), Paolo Pecchioli (23rd), and Valdis Jansons (24th). Director is Francesco Esposito. Stage-sets by Nicola Bruschi (see sketch of the first act). Tickets for the opera season go on sale on November 2nd.

(Teatro Del Giglio booking office email: biglietteria@teatrodelgiglio.it, tel. 0583 465320).

CONCERTS EVERY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AT SAN GIUSEPPE

From November the “Puccini and his Lucca” International Festival offers two weekly concerts at 7 pm in the Oratorio di San Giuseppe at the Museum of the Cathedral of Lucca (Piazza Antelminelli, the square, next to the Cathedral), and in a heated auditorium during the winter.

Every Friday the “Puccini Opera Recital”  concert of arias and duets from the masterpieces from the works of Giacomo Puccini ; every Saturday ” A Night at the Opera ” , a recital dedicated to arias from Puccini’s operas and other famous composers such as Mascagni, Donizetti , Mozart, Bizet, Wagner , Bellini , Verdi and Rossini . Every evening there are two soloists from “Puccini and his Lucca ” accompanied on the piano by Diego Fiorini .
Tickets on sale from 6 pm to 7.15 pm on the day of the concert at the Oratorio di San Giuseppe; entrance adult € 20 ( concessions € 16 for residents of the province of Lucca, students under 23 and groups). Discounts for tickets purchased in advance by calling 340 8106042 or online at: info@musick.it or info@puccinielasualucca.com.

October Music for Lucca

As I’ve promised I’ve tried to get you next month’s musical events for Lucca province to you ASAP.I’ve just the received the details from Lucca Musica (where I am classed as a collaborator). Here they are then. Let everyone take their favouries out of the little cornucopia this part of the world can present to mélomanes (as the French say).

For one, I’m definately going for the Bruckner eighth. I haven’t heard Bruckner live for yonks and certainly never in Lucca! Colombini is a brilliant and highly-charged conductor, very much at ease with the peculiar English musical idiom and whose concert in celebration of Her Majesty’s diamond Jubilee last year was overwhelmingly idiomatic, even including Elgar’s very last Pomp and Circumstance march written in 1930 at the back of his Rolls while the chauffeur was driving him round the marvellous countryside that is  Worcestershire..

Mexican organists of the Baroque also sound fascinating and I have a soft spot for that Beethoven septet (which Beethoven didn’t, hating its popularity)

And as for The Tales of Hoffman – that clearly must be on my list too!

BRUCKNER’S EIGHTH IN THE CHIESA DEI SERVI

The Lucca Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Andrea Colombini gives two important concerts this month. Tuesday 8^th, is a Grand Gala of Richard Wagner‘s operatic and orchestral excerpts from Die Meistersinger, Tannhauser, Die Walküre and Tristan and Isolde. Soloists will be the internationally renowned soprano Francesca Patane and tenor Nicola Simone Mugnaini.

Tuesday 22^nd, is another important concert by the Lucca Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Andrea Colombini with a performance of Anton Bruckner’s mighty Eighth Symphony in the 1887/1890 version. The two concerts start at 9.15 pm and will be used to raise funds for charities. Info: 340 8106042

THE “ALFREDO CATALANI “CLUB VISITS GIUSEPPE VERDI’S HOUSE

On Friday 18th at 9.15 pm, in the Auditorium of the School of Symphonic Music, the Catalani club presents a concert called l’intimismo dei Lieder. The well-known soprano Laura Polverelli (see photo) accompanied on piano by Laura Pasqualetti sings lieder by Wagner, Fauré, Massenet, Debussy and Poulenc. Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th, the club organizes a trip to La Scala for a performance of Giuseppe Verdi‘s Don Carlo. Star of the evening will be the Lucchese baritone Massimo Cavalletti in the role of Rodrigo. Conductor is Fabio Luisi. The trip will also visit Giuseppe Verdi’s tomb at the Monumental Cemetery in Milan and the beautiful artists’ rest house commissioned by Giuseppe Verdi. Info and reservations: 347 9951581

NINTH EDITION OF THE LUCCA WOMEN’S JAZZ WOMAN WITH INTERNATIONAL GUESTS

Saturday 12th at 9.15 pm, in the Ademollo Hall of the Palazzo Ducale, the ninth Lucca Jazz Donna Festival begins with a concert by the Gershwin Quintet and Bate Boca. Free admission. The festival continues on Thursday 17th at 9.15 pm in the San Girolamo theatre with a concert called Le emozioni degli istrumenti (“The Italian Colour of Jazz” and ” Francesca Bertazzo Hart Quintet”), Friday 18th with a double appointment at San Girolamo: at 5.30 pm a lecture-concert entitled Women and Jazz: musical adventures and, at 9.15 pm, with a show, le emozioni delle voci. Finally, on Saturday 19th (San Girolamo theatre 9.15 pm) a performance by Giovanni Tommaso’s Plus Trio. For ticket prices and information, visit http://www.luccajazzdonna.it

CAMIGLIANESE CHORAL FESTIVAL

Saturday, from 5 to 9 pm, in the parish church of Camigliano the XXXV Camiglianese Choral festival, which every year attracts an international level of choral singing, will take place. This year, after the evening’s opening given by the G. Puccini choir of Camigliano conducted by Luigi Della Maggiora the event’s organizer, we will hear a performance by the S. Martino di Prato choir conducted by Leonardo Gabuzzini, who will sing songs from operettas and Verdi choruses, and the ” Friends of the Mountain” choir from Origgio in Varese province who specialise in in mountain songs and are conducted by Raffaele Ceriani.

CHORAL SINGING COURSE

The Brunier Cultural Artistic association Laboratory is organizing a course in choral singing for anyone interested in developing their musicality. The course, directed by Guido Masini, will begin in October at the premises of the association in Piazza S. Romano, Lucca. Info: aac.laboratoriobrunier @ virgilio.it or by calling 347 6254609.

TANGRAM CHAMBER PROJECT IN CONCERT

In October, the “Boccherini OPEN”, the annual season of the “Boccherini” Musical Institute starts. Thursday, from 3 to 9 pm, Francesco Demegni present Modern music Evolutions, while on the weekend of October 5th and 6^th there will be Performances Boccherini, with the Institute’s best students. This starts on Saturday, 5th (6 pm) with a Debussy concert by Aldo Dotto (piano), the clarinet and Gloria Cervelli (clarinet) and Cristina Papini (violin). Also on Saturday 5^th, at 9 pm, Arianna Tarantino (piano) and Fabia Simini (cello) perform music by Boccherini, Beethoven and Brahms. Sunday 6th (6 pm) Francesco Gatti, Lara Berti, Sara Tomei (flute), Simon Rugani, Cristian Monti (piano), Elisa Barsella, Lara Petri, Francesco Scarpetti (violas) will perform with twentieth century music. Finally, the 6^th at 9 pm, a piano recital by Sofia Gazzola with music by Scarlatti, Beethoven, Liszt and Rachmaninoff. Special guest this month will be the Tangram Chamber Project (see photo), consisting of young players and award-winning musicians, who will perform on Friday, 25th at 9 pm. The ensemble, consisting of Clarice Curradi (violin), Giacomo Vai (viola), Simone Centauro (cello), Marco Martelli (double-bass), Giovanni Vai (clarinet), Francesca Alterio (bassoon ) and Massimo Marconi ( horn), play Beethoven’s Septet in E flat major, Op. 20 and Bruch’s Septet in E flat major. All concerts will be held in the Auditorium of the “L. Boccherini ” musical institute in Piazza del Suffrage. Free entry. Info: http://www.boccherini.it

HIDDEN THEATRES

In October the “The Hidden Theatres of Lucca” tours continue. The Teatro Del Giglio, in collaboration with the Consortium Turislucca Guide, offers the chance of rediscovering theatrical spaces hidden in the historical buildings of the centre with a walking tour, enriched by vintage images and pleasant surprises of live music, narrating the world of drama, meetings and cultural life which over the centuries has inspired the city of Lucca.

Appointments are on 19th and 26th, departing at 3 pm, in Piazza San Frediano. Ticket € 10. Reservations are compulsory at the Giglio Theatre booking office. Tel 0583 465320.

OPERA SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS

In October you can buy subscriptions for the 2013-2014 opera season at the Teatro Del Giglio. The theatre will present Bizet’s Carmen (23rd and 24th November), Verdi’s Falstaff (13th and 15th December), Cimarosa’s Secret Marriage (7th and 9th February) and Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann (22nd and 23rd February). Old subscriptions will be confirmed until 11^th October while from 12th to 31st new subscriptions will be sold. Info 0583 465 330.

LUCCA CITY OF ORGANS 2013

The “Domenico di Lorenzo” association  presents four concerts performed on the territory’s historic organs with the sponsorship of the Cassa di Risparmio di San Miniato SpA and the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca. The first event is on Friday 18th in the church of S. Filippo, where the organist Enrico Barsanti plays Italian and transalpine composers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries on  Michelangelo Crudeli’s valuable instrument. Friday 25th, Mexican organist Victor Contreras (see photo) will perform a program devoted to music by Mexican composers between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries on the organ of St. Peter Somaldi. Wednesday 30th, a trio consisting of Monica Piccinini (soprano), Patxi Montero (viola da gamba) and Daniele Boccaccio (organ), will present music by Italian seventeenth and eighteenth century organists on the instrument attributed to Domenico Pucci in the church of San Salvatore della Misericordia. The concerts, starting at 9.15 pm, are free. Info: tel. 338 3221217 – 339 7591128.

THE MIRÒ TRIO AT S.GIULIA

Thursday, October 3rd at 5 pm, in the Church of Santa Giulia in Piazza del Suffragio, the Mirò Trio will present a concert featuring Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations in a version for string trio. The concert will be held in conjunction with an exhibition of paintings by C. Cherchi, G. Giudice and M. Vertuccio. The Trio Mirò, formed by Carlo Alberto Valenti (violin), Claudio Valenti (viola) and Carlo Benvenuti (cello), is part of a larger musical group called the “Miró Ensemble”. Admission is free.

FALLONI AND ZONI AT PALAZZO PFANNER

The last concert of the fifth season of the “Suoni di Lucca – Musica a Palazzo Pfanner” will be held on Sunday 6th at 9.15 pm at Palazzo Pfanner in via degli Asili no. 33. Matthew Fallon (piano) Marco Zoni (flute) will perform music by Schumann, Casella, Fallon, Gaubert, Agricole Gènin and Borne. At the end of the concert there will be a tasting of a typical Luccan liqueur: “The Biadina Tista.” The entrance ticket (€ 5) can be purchased at the concert venue. Info: http://www.orchestraluigiboccherini.it

Feet washing and Cross bearing

I was drawn back to the fact that this is ”la settimana Santa” by one of my students in a business English class at the paint factory who informed me that “Christ will be washing my feet this Thursday”. Of course, he was referring to one of the representations of Christ’s passion which will take place with great vividness and involvement in many parts of Italy during Holy Week. My student was part of the Massa Rosa pageant and was re-enacting the passage in St John’s gospel chapter 13.  The washing isn’t just an exercise in good hygiene: it also symbolizes Christ’s washing away of mankind’s sin. Similar ceremonies exist, not only in other parts of Italy but also, under different religions in the rest of the world. The significance remains the same however – a purification of the soul by cleansing it of earthly pollution. For those who prefer something more dramatic there is nothing in this part of the country to beat the Calvary procession (processione dei crocioni) at Castiglione di Garfagnana on Maundy Thursday. We have been to this a couple of times and the effect is impressive. A hooded Christ (it is considered presumptuous to show who the person actually is impersonating Christ – although the majority of locals recognize who he is) carries a very heavy cross on his shoulders as part of the “via dolorosa” through the narrow and steep streets of this enchanting walled town at dusk, with only the light from flaming torches lighting the way. Visibly worn out, often bleeding from his bare feet on sharp cobbles, with shoulders heavily bruised by the chaffing of the wood and flogged by merciless centurions the white hooded Christ returns to the beautiful Romanesque Pieve where he anonymously disappears and the crowd, which have followed him around the town chanting religious songs and prayers, join the priest for the mass.

Here are some pictures from 2004 when we first attended this extraordinary event: