Carmen in red and black – Flamenco style – Teatro Verdi Firenze – Monday 20th January
I am always surprised by the front of this theatre as it’s appearance is – relative to so many of the beautiful buildings in the City of Florence – dare I say it? -Somewhat dowdy!
In addition, none of the doors on the Via Verdi where it is based, ever appear to be opened – so much so ,that for many months when I first lived in Florence – I believed that it was an old theatre now closed to the public!
Not so! At night – when there is a performance, the main entrance – around the corner from Via Verdi in Via Ghibellina, 101, comes alive, all noise and chaos as double , even triple , parked cars disgorge their contents – with the Italians at least , all glamorously dressed for a spectacular night out!
The theatre interior is splendid, with tiers of gold-leaf boxes like the grand opera houses of the past, which indeed it is – it was built in 1854 as the Teatro Pagliano and renamed Teatro Verdi in 1901 in honour of the famous Composer of Opera.
And now to return to the dancing …! Carmen was the first half of a performance by the Ballet Flamenco de Madrid – as sensuous as always but with the added vibrancy of dance – and with every item of clothing acting it’s part to add to the drama.
The cast of twenty five artists, dancers and musicians, combined their talents to wow us with the tragic love story of Carmen and Don Jose. The most exciting dancing to me came from the Bull – dressed in black with his sleeves pulled up so his white arms represented his horns – his performance as truly and unexpectedly awesome.
Wow, that looks wonderful, Penny, both the theatre and the Flamenco. Can’t wait to go there! We saw a flamenco performance in Granada a few years ago and really enjoyed it. We can’t wait to return to Spain after we move to Florence.
Cheers.
There is always something interesting happening in Florence – much of it not too expensive – I hope that you like your new apartment in the Oltrarno – for me always the best part of town!