Musicista

Florence and music, an itinerary through time

This historical-musical route will guide you through the most significant places and moments regarding musical production and innovation, on the traces of what was born in Florence and then reached the whole world, deeply influencing trends and styles.

In the 15th century the entourage of Lorenzo dei Medici created the "canti carnascialeschi", folk-style polyphonic compositions that brought cultured music from the restricted circle of noble palaces and convents to a wider working class audience, on squares and in markets.

A milestone in the history of Western music was set right in Florence in the 16th century thanks to the Camerata dei Bardi, a group of nobles, writers and musicians who used to meet in Palazzo Bardi, the house of nobleman Giovanni on Via de’ Benci. In this context Girolamo Mei, Vincenzo Galilei, Giulio Caccini, Emilio de’ Cavalieri, Jacopo Peri and Ottavio Rinuccini, inspired by the dramatic style of the ancient Greek laid the foundations for a new form of musical theatre: opera.

A new genre that was immediately supported by the Medici court, that protected with great generosity the most outstanding musicians. The first embryonic opera was Apollo and Daphne, to a libretto by Ottavio Rinuccini and music by Jacopo Peri, but officially the birth of opera happened on October 6 1600 in Palazzo Pitti, with the production of Eurydice on the occasion of Maria dei Medici's wedding to Henry IV of France.

Still on the subject of opera, it is worth remembering that a Florentine, Francesca Caccini, was the very first woman to compose one. Francesca, the daughter of Giulio Caccini, was also a singer and instrumentalist, hired in the court staff. Her opera is called The Liberation of Ruggiero from the island of Alcina and dates back to 1625: it was also brought abroad by Francesca herself and toured the European courts.

Also worth remembering is the Hercules in Thebes by Jacopo Melani, a theatrical event set to music that was presented on July 12 1661 on the occasion of the opening to the public of the Teatro della Pergola, supported by the Accademia degli Immobili and one of the most popular theatres of the city to this day. Even this opera was written on the occasion of the marriage between Grand Duke Cosimo III dei Medici and Margherita Luisa d'Orléans.

Another fundamental step in this evolution can be dated around the year 1700, when Florence saw the invention of the forerunner of the piano, an instrument that its mentor, Bartolomeo Cristofori, named fortepiano. Cristofori worked as a manufacturer of instruments at the court of Ferdinando dei Medici and this new creation was greatly appreciated by musicians such as Mozart, Haydn, Clementi and Beethoven. You can admire some examples of it in the Museum of Musical Instruments, at the Galleria dell'Accademia. The museum is located next to the place where today's musicians are trained, the Luigi Cherubini Conservatory which also has a branch in the wonderful Villa Favard, in Rovezzano.

Ferdinando dei Medici used to spend the autumn in the Villa di Pratolino: on the third floor he set up the Teatro di Pratolino, where he gathered under his patronage the most famous musicians of the time; the performances were highly rated and people from all of Europe came to listen to them.

In more recent times Florence was the birthplace of the oldest music festival in Italy, the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. Vittorio Gui had already established the Stabile Fiorentina symphony orchestra in 1928; thanks to guest conductors and in vogue singers, very high professional standards were reached.
Five years later, Vittorio Gui with the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino created a space open to arts for opera, symphonic concerts, drama and conferences; an event that has since then seen a succession of the most important international conductors, singers, directors and musicians.

Also included in this itinerary is the Museo Zeffirelli, dedicated to the multifaceted activity of the Florentine director, who staged many operas, performed in theatres all over the world, even handling, with artisan skills, the design of sets and also costumes and outfits of the various characters.

And finally a curiosity: in Florence, in the Santissima Annunziata church, you can find the second oldest organ in Italy: dating back to 1523, it is still played every Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo credits:
Walking route
Teatro della Pergola

Via della Pergola, 12/32, 50121 Firenze FI, Italia

Teatro della Pergola

Via della Pergola, 12/32, 50121 Firenze FI, Italia

Teatro della Pergola

Via della Pergola, 12/32, 50121 Firenze FI, Italia

Teatro della Pergola

Via della Pergola, 12/32, 50121 Firenze FI, Italia

Teatro della Pergola

Via della Pergola, 12/32, 50121 Firenze FI, Italia

Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze

via Ricasoli, 58/60, 50122 Firenze FI, Italia

Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze

via Ricasoli, 58/60, 50122 Firenze FI, Italia

Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze

via Ricasoli, 58/60, 50122 Firenze FI, Italia

Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze

via Ricasoli, 58/60, 50122 Firenze FI, Italia

Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze

via Ricasoli, 58/60, 50122 Firenze FI, Italia

Franco Zeffirelli Foundation

Piazza di S. Firenze, 5, 50122 Firenze FI, Italia

Franco Zeffirelli Foundation

Piazza di S. Firenze, 5, 50122 Firenze FI, Italia

Franco Zeffirelli Foundation

Piazza di S. Firenze, 5, 50122 Firenze FI, Italia

Franco Zeffirelli Foundation

Piazza di S. Firenze, 5, 50122 Firenze FI, Italia

Franco Zeffirelli Foundation

Piazza di S. Firenze, 5, 50122 Firenze FI, Italia

Villa Favard

Via di Rocca Tedalda, 50136 Firenze FI, Italia

Villa Favard

Via di Rocca Tedalda, 50136 Firenze FI, Italia

Villa Favard

Via di Rocca Tedalda, 50136 Firenze FI, Italia

Villa Favard

Via di Rocca Tedalda, 50136 Firenze FI, Italia

Villa Favard

Via di Rocca Tedalda, 50136 Firenze FI, Italia

Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Piazza Vittorio Gui, 1, 50144 Firenze FI, Italia

Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Piazza Vittorio Gui, 1, 50144 Firenze FI, Italia

Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Piazza Vittorio Gui, 1, 50144 Firenze FI, Italia

Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Piazza Vittorio Gui, 1, 50144 Firenze FI, Italia

Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

Piazza Vittorio Gui, 1, 50144 Firenze FI, Italia

Pratolino Medici Park - Villa Demidoff

Via Fiorentina, 276, 50036 Pratolino FI, Italia

Pratolino Medici Park - Villa Demidoff

Via Fiorentina, 276, 50036 Pratolino FI, Italia

Pratolino Medici Park - Villa Demidoff

Via Fiorentina, 276, 50036 Pratolino FI, Italia

Pratolino Medici Park - Villa Demidoff

Via Fiorentina, 276, 50036 Pratolino FI, Italia

Pratolino Medici Park - Villa Demidoff

Via Fiorentina, 276, 50036 Pratolino FI, Italia

Piazza Santissima Annunziata

Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, Firenze

Piazza Santissima Annunziata

Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, Firenze

Piazza Santissima Annunziata

Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, Firenze

Piazza Santissima Annunziata

Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, Firenze

Piazza Santissima Annunziata

Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, Firenze