Opera and more at St Mark’s Church – and Beyond!
La Traviata got a standing ovation last night – roll on Rigoletto tomorrow!
One of my favourite things to do in the evening in Florence is to take visiting friends to the little opera production in St Mark’s Church,
Now in it’s 7th year this opera group goes from strength to strength – no longer two men, one piano and very few props or relevant costumes – it is taking on increasingly difficult operas and the regular troupe has grown significantly in size as well as in splendour , as shown in the photos below from their Summer Festival 2012
This year’s summer music festival begins TONIGHT Friday 30th August when the group perform La Traviata at the beautiful Limonia of the Villa Strozzi in via Pisana 77, Florence – stars include the delicious Giorgio Casciarri,
with Sabrina Enrici,baritone Carlo Morini and Sara Cervasio
The complex of Villa Strozzi , which includes the house, the stables and the limonaia (what the English and French more often call the Orangery!) began it’s transformation in 1973 into a multi-purpose space for contemporary art . Various International architects were asked to submit their ideas. The Limonaia was completed in the summer of 1998 so it is still a relatively new venue for the performing arts in Florence.
I am sure it would be worth seeing the newly reconstructed building, as well as hearing this great opera performed in such a wonderful setting.
On Sunday 1st September there is another chance to see the team in action at the Limonia when they perform Verdi’s masterpiece Rigoletto – for more info you can view the event on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/397028893730382/
Congratulations to St Mark’s – and thanks for all the opera and more!
For more information on the series on Operas performed at St Mark’s English Church click this link – however the website is being revised at the moment so just in case the information is unavailable -also call in at the Church on Via Maggio for a leaflet!
For more information on events at the Limonaia – see http://www.sound-musiche.it/news/2013/07/25/limonaia-villa-strozzi-programma/
