Nestled in the hills above Florence, Villa La Pietra with its wonderful garden is the home of New York University Florence (via Bolognese 120). In the summer, the university organizes a rich cultural program of events called The Season, which is now in its 18th edition, bringing together artists, musicians, writers, professional actors, dancers and young talents.
On June 4, Maestro Giuseppe Lanzetta will conduct the Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina in a beautiful Mozart concert.
The cultural association BHMF at the Recovery Plan will accompany us on a journey into the life and legacy of Paul Leroy Robeson. Paul Leroy Robeson: Mountains, Rivers and Deserts is a two-day event to reflect on the socio-political dimensions of Robeson, his vision of art as a tool for social change. Day 1 is scheduled for June 10 at Villa La Pietra. The conversation will continue on June 11 at The Recovery Plan (via Santa Reparata 19R).
On June 12, author and NYU professor Alison Cornish will present her latest book Believing in Dante: Truth in Fiction, in conversation with Federica Anichini (NYU Florence lecturer). On June 17, Risky Business: Rethinking Women on the Baroque Stage, a double book discussion and reading with Dr. Jessica Goethals (PhD, Italian Studies, NYU) and Eugenio Refini (Professor of Italian Studies and Chair of the Department of Italian Studies, NYU), who will be presenting their respective books: Margherita Costa, Diva of the Baroque Court and Staging the Soul. Allegorical Drama as Spiritual Practice in Baroque Italy.
A staple appointment on The Season’s calendar is the performance by the students in the NYU Tisch Commedia dell’Arte program. This year, the performance will take place on June 25 with a play by Molière. On June 27 the Continuum Company, a group of professional actors, mostly NYU Graduate Acting alumni, will stage the famous William Buckley vs. James Baldwin Debate starring actors Teagle F. Bougere and Jed Diamond. The following day (June 28), the association African Diaspora Cinema Festival will be screening the movie or short movies listed for this year’s prize.
The Season’s program will end on July 5 with an engaging site-specific dance performance, which will move through various “rooms” of the historical garden: No Explanation Needed by WADE (Wandering Avian Dance Experience), a women-led multifaceted performing arts company that supports the voices and artistic expressions of women and historically underrepresented artists, giving center stage to the universal themes of gender-based violence and LGBTQIA+ rights.
The Season takes full advantage of every venue at Villa La Pietra and its garden, and welcomes friends in the wider Florence community to enjoy these special events. All events are free, but reservations via lapietra.reply@nyu.edu are required.
