Our events listing keeps you up-to-date on the latest and greatest in culture, music and other English-friendly entertainment; this is a selection of the best of them.
HIP/Vintage Selection
January 25 to 29, Stazione Leopolda, viale F.lli Rosselli 5 (Florence)
Running during the Pitti Filati trade fair, Vintage Selection, now in its 19th edition, attracts fashionistas as well as passionate collectors of vintage clothing and accessories. This year’s theme, Very Vintage, explores how different people interpret vintage style to create original, personal looks. A photo shoot from last fall provided the looks in the event’s advertising, and to kick things off, an event at Rex Bar on January 22 will involve more photos, which will be projected during the fair (so be sure to show up in your best hand-me-downs). With about 60 stands, the fair is worth attending even just to browse, or to pick up that special something to create a unique outfit. Open 10am to 8pm, tickets are 5 euro; discount coupon available at www.vintageselection.it.
VALDARNO JAZZ /Hiromi
January 27, 9:15pm, Teatro Bucci, corso Italia 3 (San Giovanni Valdarno)
The Japanese American jazz pianist Hiromi is in concert to kick off the Valdarno Jazz Winter Festival (January 27 to February 26). Hiromi’s 2003 debut album, Another Mind, has sold over 100,000 copies. With her highly eclectic mix of influences, from Bach to Liszt, Ahmad Jamal and Dream Theater, a great show is expected. Tickets cost 22 euro (2 euro of which will be donated to support the victims of Japan’s earthquake) and are available online at www.ticketone.it.
TUNES/Galapaghost
January 24, 9:45pm, Glue Alternative Concept Space, viale Manfredo Fanti 20 (Florence)
The American singer-songwriter Casey Chandler comes from Woodstock but now lives in Austin, TX. His first album, Running, has been published by an indie Italian label and he’s on his Italian/European tour, but he certainly carries with him some heavy baggage from his hippy hometown. His influences range from Simon and Garfunkel to Midlake and Esper. See www.gluefirenze.com.
PHOTO/Duffy the Photographic Genius
Until March 25, Alinari Museum of Photography, piazza SM Novella 14 (Florence)
Brian Duffy, fashion and celebrity photographer extraordinaire of 60s and 70s swinging London, always felt that the model should look like she owns the clothes and that the product needs to be highly visible. The resulting images, which he set out to create as photos, not art, are now valued as iconic and artistic. His son Chris organized this exhibit, which contains icons of fashion photography as well as celebrity portraits like those of John Lennon and David Bowie. For details, see www.alinari.it.
SPECIAL/Vasari Corridor
January 17 to April 27, Uffizi Gallery (Florence)
The secret passageway that Giorgio Vasari built for the Medici family to safely pass from Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti is one of the most desirable tourist destinations in Florence but is seldom open to the public. The Uffizi gallery, which manages the corridor and the collections, primarily of self-portraits, occasionally opens blocks of dates for individuals to book a visit. There will be eight tours per week, only in Italian, from January 17 to April 27 and they are expected to sell out immediately (for which TF can assume no responsibility). Call Firenze Musei at 055/294883 and ask for any available slot (no online booking). Tickets are 17 euro (10.50 euro plus the 6.50 entrance to the Uffizi).
OUT OF TOWN/Seravezza Photo
January 28 to April 9, Seravezza (Lucca)
In its ninth year, Seravezza Fotografia transforms this small inland Versilia town into a hub of creativity that rivals any international photography event. Not one exhibit but an entire calendar of exhibits, workshops and talks, headlining the shows is the Tuscan Romano Cagnoni’s Upside Down Memories, with over 100 photos, which include many of the wars he witnessed in Biafra, the former Yugoslavia and other countries. Go to www.terremedicee.it for more information.
SPORTS/World Snow Day
January 22, ski resorts in Abetone and Monte Amiata
Tuscany is participating in the first World Snow Day, organized by the Fédération Internationale de Ski as part of its Bring Children to the Snow campaign. Special events throughout the weekend at both the Abetone (see TF 135) and Monte Amiata ski areas include free hot chocolate, discounted (or in some cases free!) lift tickets for children, games and races, tastings of local foods, and an evening torchlight descent at Amiata. For information and to register for discounts, see www.vivilamontagnatoscana.it and www.world-snow-day.com.
DREAM/Chagal
Until March 11, Church of San Cristoforo (Lucca)
In the beautiful setting of the Church of Saint Christopher in Lucca, 20 very precious oil and mixed-technique works on canvas by Marc Chagall, painted between 1959 and 1982, are on display. Small in scale but large in concept, Chagall’s dream-world works are reflections of his personal experience, but also by now part of the collective unconscious’ poetic baggage. For information, call 058/3957660 or go to www.artscristoforolucca.com.
