On the notes of musicians around Florence
An itinerary to learn about the musicians who were born in this area, or who chose it as their home, among composers, singers and instrumentalists.
First of all, we must remember the fundamental importance of Florence in music history: from the birth of opera to the invention of the piano, everything passed through here. In such a fertile city, from a musical point of view, it is no wonder that even the surrounding territory has benefited from it.
Let's start with Enrico Caruso: the tenor who was applauded in the world's major theatres, the first singer to make a record, a true predictor of the public's taste. In Lastra a Signa, on the Bellosguardo hill you can visit what was once his residence during the Florentine period, when he bought and restored an ancient 16th-century home with its wonderful park. Inside the Enrico Caruso Museum you can listen to the valuable recordings of arias sung by the tenor, while looking at memorabilia and items related to this Italian star.
The second leg is in Empoli, to visit what was once the home of Ferruccio Busoni: child of artists, he became a highly renowned composer and pianist and came into contact with the great musicians of the time, from Brahms to Tchajkovsky, to Sibelius. The Musical Centre that bears his name actively works to promote the knowledge of the figure and works of Ferruccio Busoni, and of musical culture in general, organising high-quality festivals and concerts.
A little further south, in Montespertoli, lies the Amedeo Bassi Museum, dedicated to the Florentine tenor who was born here in 1874; a singer with undeniable vocal qualities and stage presence, he was acclaimed in Italy and abroad and is remembered for being the first performer in Italy of La Fanciulla del West by Giacomo Puccini.
The list of music personalities linked with the Florentine territory does not end here; just think of Narciso Parigi, born in Campi Bisenzio, remembered by all supporters of the Fiorentina soccer club as the writer of the song O Fiorentina, the team's anthem.
Comune di Firenze
The places
Stages
Enrico Caruso Museum
The bond between Enrico Caruso and the Bellosguardo Hill above Lastra a Signa was a love one, born after the relationship withAda Giachetti. They visited the ruined country house together, bought it and lived there more uxorio. Caruso invested a huge amount of money in the re-building of the house, giving work to the locals in a time when the major source of income -the straw manifacturing- had a strong crisis. The result was a beautiful mansion, in a dominant position above the Arno valley, with a majestic Italian garden and agricultural estate.
Enrico Caruso was the very first Italian divo, a tenor who knew how to use all the tools belonging to that age, from the (silent) cinema to the recording on vinyl to amplify his voice over and over, in addiction to the stage exhibitions. The exposition is in the rooms of the noble floor of the mansion, including the tenor bedroom, with original furniture. In another room there are Caruso's drawings, mostly caricatures that Caruso used to draw to relax. There is also a collection of gramophones of the first years of XX century, all working, to testify the importance of recording his works. You will see then photos, both private and of shows and colleagues, shedules of the numerous theatres where Caruso performed all over the world, and scenes costumes, that will be exposed in rotation.
The museum also boasts special visual and audio effects, the sonor gushes, that you can enjoy in the music room: as if Caruso's voice invests the vistor who comes closer to the showcase. The Enrico Caruso Museum is in Villa Caruso Bellosguardo, above Lasta a Signa.
Casa Museo Ferruccio Busoni
Ferruccio Busoni (1866-1924) was a well-known composer and pianist of the XX° century. He is the author of operas, texts for orchestras, piano and Lied singer.
His XVIII century's house hosts a Center for Busonian Studies and a museum where manuscripts, original librettos, photos and some objects like his piano are displayed.
Amedeo Bassi Museum
The tenor Amedeo Bassiwasborn in Montespertoli, near Florence. His career started here, he became popular in the theatres of all over the world. The museum in his native town shows documents and materials of his life and career.
The museum also hosts the Tourist Office of the Municipality of Montespertoli.
