Every summer, Tuscany turns into a big stage on which many influential artists of the musical panorama perform. This is the best season for enjoying many of the things Tuscany offers – a mix of emotions, adventures and entertainment!
This summer is off to a start high a lot of expectations, thanks to the rich calendar of musical events, a paradise for music lovers of every kind.
Here are the main festivals and concerts with their dates and highlights from their calendar for this Tuscan summer of 2012:
Lucca Summer Festival
The Lucca Summer Festival, the most important event in Tuscany, returns this year in its 15th edition from June 29 to July 29, 2012 in Piazza Napoleone in Lucca.
Some of the concerts on calendar:
29/06 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
04/07 Blink 182
07/07 Laura Pausini
14/07 Norah Jones
15/07 Kasabian
19/07 Gossip
20/07 Franco Battiato
21/07 Duran Duran
The parking lots around the city (several for free) are connected with a shuttle service to take you directly to Piazza Napoleone.
For further information about the Lucca Summer Festival, visit the official website here.
Pistoia Blues
Il Pistoia Blues, the event dedicated to blues and rock music runs from the 12th to the 15th of July in Piazza Duomo in Pistoia.
The event starts on July 12 with the concert of Subsonica, an Italian band and goes ahead with B.B. King on July 13th and Paolo Nutini on July 14th, while John Hiatt & The Combo will close the festival on July 15, 2012.
You can reach Pistoia both by train as well as by car. By car you have to take the highway A11, exit “Pistoia”.
More information about Pistoia Blues at http://pistoiablues.com/index-en.php
Opera Festival
The Opera Festival, the lyrical festival of Tuscany, started for the first time in 2004. It presents both opera as well as concerts of various kinds.
The Opera Festival returns to San Galgano this year and adds two new venues: San Gimignano and the Artsenal of La Spezia.
There are just some of the offerings for this summer:
Aida – July 7, 2012 at San Galgano Festival, Chiusdino – Siena
Ludovico Einaudi and Paolo Fresu – July 14, 2012 at San Galgano Festival, Chiusdino – Siena
Vinicio Capossela – July 15, 2012 a San Galgano Festival, Chiusdino – Siena
Swan Lake – July 19, 2012, Artsenal – La Spezia.
The Barber of Seville – August 20, 2012 in San Gimignano, Piazza Duomo.
And many more! View the whole program here.
Puccini Festival
Il Festival Puccini is completely dedicated to lyrical music. It takes places in Torre del Lago from July 20th through August 25, at the Gran Teatro All’Aperto. As the name makes you suppose, it was created to render homage to the Great Master Giacomo Puccini.
The program of the event might undergo changes but in the meantime this is what is planned so far:
La Tosca: July 20, August 3,16 and 25, 2012. Music: Giacomo Puccini
Madame Butterfly: July 21,27, 2012 August 10,17, 2012. Music: Giacomo Puccini
La Traviata: July 28, 2012 August 4,11 and 18, 2012. Music: Giuseppe Verdi
La Bohème: August 9,19 and 22, 2012. Music: Giacomo Puccini
The Gran Teatro All’Aperto can host up to 3370 people, it is a beautiful example of a modern amphitheater within the Park of Music of Giacomo Puccini at Torre del Lago.
To get more information about the Puccini Festival look at the official site.
More Music
While the above are the main festivals running all the summer long, there are many others which might not be as famous but equally interesting. Here we list a few:
Jazz Wide Summer in Pisa
Jazz Wide Summer is a program of Jazz music which starts on June 9 and runs all summer to September 1, 2012 in Pisa at Argini e Margini, Scalo dei Renaioli. Among the most famous artists we find this year: Dan Kinzelman, Minus One Trio, Mattia Cigalini, Scala Nobile di Sandro Schneebeli. More info at the Jazz Wide Summer website.
Other Jazz events in Tuscany
– Siena Jazz: from June 24 to August 7, 2012 it will host both Italians as well international guests.
– Grey Cat Festival: from August 2 – 24 in Maremma. Among the musicians: Stefano Bollani, Danilo Rea, Noa, Hamilton De Hollanda, Living Coltrane Quartet, Enrico Rava and Fabrizio Bosso.
– Vivere Jazz in Fiesole from June 20 through July 27, 2012 with international guests of the likes of: Richard Galliano, Dave Holland and Gilberto Gil.
OrienteOccidente at Arezzo
The festival of migrant culture and music returns this year from July 10 to August 24 in Arezzo. This 8th edition is dedicated to Woody Guthrie, a great popular singer-songwriter from America.
Special guest will be Patti Smith, who will perform with the Aretine Casa del Vento on July 26, 2012 in Piazza Varchi in Montevarchi. More info at OrienteOccidente.
Marea Festival, Buca del Palio di Fucecchio
From June 22 to the 30th head to the the 17th edition of the main festival in the area of Valdarno. Tonight (June 29), the Africa Unite!
Francigena Melody Road
A Festival dedicated to the Via Francigena and its most beautiful places. Many concerts along the ancient Road from July throughout August, 2012. Read the program of the festival here.
Concerts in Florence
The new “Nuovo Teatro dell’Opera” in the Cascine Park is the setting for various concerts this summer in Florence!
Chris Cornell – June 29, 2012
Ludovico Einaudi – July 3, 2012
Morrissey, the leader of the Smiths – July 11, 2012
Alanis Morrisette – July 20, 2012
Damien Rice – July 28, 2012
The Radiohead concert which was supposed to be this weekend, has been rescheduled, still at Park of Cascine, for September 23,2012.
A Tuscan journey to the tune of music and now, it’s hard to choose just one, isnt’it?
About Sara Turini
Social media addicted, keen on travels, in love with my land, Tuscany. Sara has decided to share all the emotions this region can offer through her posts on our blog.
