FLORENCE AND OPERA

There are many reasons to study Italian in Florence, and one of them is the passion for theatre and opera. Here you can combine these two passions and enjoy a perfect study stay.

The practice of lyrical singing is recognised as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and, given that opera was born here, the city of Florence is particularly proud of this.

This theatrical and musical genre, which combines art and passion, was conceived in the salons of the Florentine Camerata de’ Bardi in the 16th century and, since then, has made people all over the world dream and fall in love. In those years, Florence was a city undergoing profound change and enjoying a period of relative peace. The ground was fertile for the development of new forms in the cultural sphere.

Imagine a Florentine palace on Via de’ Bardi, overlooking the Arno River, where a nobleman, Giovanni de’ Bardi, welcomed intellectuals, poets, and musicians. It was an intellectual salon where guests chatted amiably. Those who attended the Camerata aimed to recreate ancient Greek tragedy, which they believed was sung entirely. This is how they experimented with a new form of musical expression, combining music and words to create lyric opera. In 1600, on the occasion of the celebrations for the wedding of the Grand Duke of Tuscany’s daughter, Maria de’ Medici, to Henry IV of France, the melodrama Euridice, composed by Peri with a libretto by Rinuccini, was performed at the Pitti Palace. This is, coincidentally, the date that marks the birth of lyric opera.

It is a fascinating story that you can relive by visiting the city of Florence and studying the Italian language and culture with us.

Among the Florentine theatres that you cannot miss is the Teatro della Pergola. Considered the guardian of melodrama, it is an active and lively centre for the dissemination of musical culture. A visit to the Teatro della Pergola is a journey through time, not only through Italian theatre, but also through Italian life and society throughout the ages, from the court of the Medici to the present day.

For an evening at the opera, the ideal theatre is the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.

Throughout the year, italianme offers its students events dedicated to opera, including: an evening at the Florence Opera House to enjoy the magic of opera, a seminar on the history of opera, a tour to discover the history of Florentine theatres and, depending on availability, a visit to the Teatro della Pergola or the historic Filistrucchi workshop for theatre make-up and wigs.

In the morning, you can attend Italian classes, and in the afternoon and evening, you can devote yourself to your passion.

Enjoy this unforgettable experience in Florence and come to the theatre with us! We have three evenings planned for autumn 2025: in September, G. Bizet’s ‘Le pêcheurs de perle’; in October, G. Verdi’s “Macbeth”; and in November, G. Donizetti’s ‘Lucrezia Borgia’.