Here’s our round-up for May 26 to June 2.
Wine cellars open to the public for Cantine Aperte and parks become key culture spots as Cascine is transformed into a dance and art festival, and green spaces all over become open-air theatres.
Here’s our line-up of best events this May 26 to June 2
Manifattura Tabacchi presents +Cascine, molto più di un parco from 3.30-11pm on May 26, with talks, performances and workshops bringing new life to the Cascine Park, curated by LAMA Impresa Sociale. Dance, art and more will be shared by NAM – Not A Musuem, Giardino Chiuso, Fabbrica Europa, KLM / Kinkaleri – Le supplici – Mk , Virgilio Sieni National Dance Production Center and Italy Tosta.
Opera and Florence merge in a new series by Destination Florence. May 31 sees Placido Domingo in the role of Francesco Foscari in I Due Foscari at Teatro del Maggio. Strolling the streets of Florence before taking a seat in the magnificent theatre, you’ll admire Hayez’s I due Foscari painting on display at the Galleria d’Arte Moderna in Palazzo Pitti, as an expert relays stories about the city’s powerful members in an artistic and narrative journey. Verdi’s opera brings the tour to an awe-inspiring conclusion, with his story about paternal love and love of country bringing audiences through the dramatic tale of murder and plots against the Republic of Venice. See the programme and book one of the limited places.
Museo degli Innocenti (piazza della Santissima Annunziata 12) displays Bonelli Story from June 1 to September 18, dedicated to the publishing house behind the historic comics with characters like Tex Willer, Piccolo Ranger, Zagor, Dylan Dog, Nathan Never and Dragonero up for admiration.
The new open air edition of the Tempo Reale festival returns with live music performances, international guests, nature walks, and electroacoustic performances. As part of the programming, video artist Robert Cahen speaks with his biographer, Sandra Lischi, at the Stensen Cinema at 7pm on May 27, presenting some of his audiovisual masterpieces.
Serre Torrigiani (via Gusciana 21) hosts the second edition of ‘Appuntamenti Spensierati di Cultura’ from 7pm on June 1, with actors Marco Gambino, Maria Cassi and Riccardo Naldini reading texts by Voltaire, Claude Monet, Horace Walpole, Hermann Hesse and more, with music by cellist Michael Cotton. Free admission, donation requested for Busajo Onlus dedicated to education projects in Ethiopia. Reserve your place by emailing info@tristanamedia.com.
Maestro Hermann Ostendarp conducts the Swiss Jugendorchester, Il Mosaico, in a performance from 9pm at the Church of Santi Michele e Gaetano (piazza Antinori 1) to raise funds for the Ukrainian Veseli Cherevychky Youth Ballet. Conductor and pianist Andra Schiff will feature as the ‘Padrino’ for the event. Music on the stands is by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Miroslav Skoryk, finished by a piece called the Dubo Dance. Free admission.
The 30th edition of the wine tourism festival is celebrated in over 600 wineries across 18 regions. Wineries open their doors to visitors who can explore the source and enjoy tastings on site. Nearby sites include Il Borro in Arezzo, a widespread hotel within a medieval village with an organic viticulture owned by Ferruccio Ferragamo. Opening its doors from 3-7pm on May 29, there will be guided tours and even ponies for little ones. The 10 euro ticket includes the tasting of 3 wines of your choice, and organic products, with all proceeds donated to Calcit (Autonomous Committee for the Fight Against Cancer).
Storytellers Florence return for their first event in two years on May 27 at Palazzo San Niccolò (via di San Niccolò 79). Share personal stories (notes allowed!) between 5 and 10 minutes long in the casual, non-professional setting. Tickets cost 10 euro (they must be purchased in advance via Eventbrite) and include a glass of wine, beer, juice or sparkling water. See Facebook @storytellersflorence for more.
Works by the post-war artist Alberto Biasi (Padua, 1937), who co-founded Group N in Padua, are on in display at Tornabuoni Arte, with around 50 works exhibited with particular attention paid to the Torsioni cycle. Twists on classic geometric shapes see double-sided plastic strips in contrasting colors, converging towards the center in optical dynamism.
Uliviero Ulvieri’s paintings are on display at Faustini Arte until June 11, with the beauty of Tuscany portrayed in joyful colours, bringing the fantastical to Florence. The Florentine artist has displayed in Australia, Belgium, Dubai, France, Hong Kong, Japan the United States and more, but his works are currently found exclusively at Faustini Arte.
