What better way to celebrate
Martedì Grasso (Fat Tuesday) than to attend a symphony concert at the fabulous Teatro Verdi! The students put on their finest (no jeans or tennis shoes!) in preparation for a cultural event like no other.
Teatro Verdi is one of Florence’s most important theatres. Founded in 1874, it was built on the foundations of an old prison. The theatre is stunning and unlike any theatre I’ve ever seen. There is an orchestra section and a balcony section in the back, just like most theatres; however, what makes this theatre unique is its six levels of loges that flank both sides of the theatre, which I learned is a traditional Italian design. The first three loges are lined with striking globe chandeliers, which were dimmed but not extinguished during the performance, adding an air of romance. The gold and red color scheme makes this large theatre somehow seem cozy and intimate.
This was the perfect place to see the performers for the evening, the world-famous Orchestra della Toscano. This 45-musician symphony orchestra was founded in 1980, and the Teatro Verdi serves as its home, although the orchestra has toured internationally since 1992. Last night’s concert, a
Concerto di Carnevale (a Carnival Concert) was entitled
Voci di Primavera (Voices of Spring) and included pieces by Offenbach, Strauss, Lanner, Vater, and Fukit.
And what a show it was! I think all of us were taken by surprise with how amusing and entertaining it was. My guess is that this particular concert gave the orchestra members a chance to just cut loose and have some fun. You see, this was no traditional symphony concert. The orchestra, led by Conductor Peter Guth, played approximately two hours of upbeat, uplifting music, just perfect as a prelude to spring. And Peter Guth wasn’t content to just have us sit back and watch. Instead, he had the audience involved throughout the entire concert. We were clapping and stomping our feet and, at one point, he even had us do a wave-like maneuver. After the intermission the entire orchestra came out in full Mardi Gras regalia: masks, clown noses, bald clown heads with lots of hair, space helmets, and other costumes. I’ve never been to a concert until this one where a musician came out a played two anvils with a hammer, stopping to mop up his sweat and drink some water halfway through. Hilarious! And for the last piece, Peter Guth pulled a young boy, age seven or eight, out of the audience to conduct the song. Why? Because he then led his entire violin section down the middle aisle of the theatre, playing away, while the little boy conducted the remaining musicians. The boy may have been a little off-tempo, but he stuck with it! When the conductor and violinists returned to the stage, he asked the young boy to take a bow. When the boy didn’t, Peter Guth simply grabbed the top of his head and pushed him down into a bow. The crowd roared!
Yes, it was quite a night. Many of the students had never been to a classical concert before. Although I can’t promise that they’ll ever see one like this again, I know they all had a grand night at the symphony!
What better way to celebrate Martedì Grasso (Fat Tuesday) than to attend a symphony concert at the fabulous Teatro Verdi! The students put on their finest (no jeans or tennis shoes!) in preparation for a cultural event like no other.
Teatro Verdi is one of Florence’s most important theatres. Founded in 1874, it was built on the foundations of an old prison. The theatre is stunning and unlike any theatre I’ve ever seen. There is an orchestra section and a balcony section in the back, just like most theatres; however, what makes this theatre unique is its six levels of loges that flank both sides of the theatre, which I learned is a traditional Italian design. The first three loges are lined with striking globe chandeliers, which were dimmed but not extinguished during the performance, adding an air of romance. The gold and red color scheme makes this large theatre somehow seem cozy and intimate.
This was the perfect place to see the performers for the evening, the world-famous Orchestra della Toscano. This 45-musician symphony orchestra was founded in 1980, and the Teatro Verdi serves as its home, although the orchestra has toured internationally since 1992. Last night’s concert, a Concerto di Carnevale (a Carnival Concert) was entitled Voci di Primavera (Voices of Spring) and included pieces by Offenbach, Strauss, Lanner, Vater, and Fukit.
And what a show it was! I think all of us were taken by surprise with how amusing and entertaining it was. My guess is that this particular concert gave the orchestra members a chance to just cut loose and have some fun. You see, this was no traditional symphony concert. The orchestra, led by Conductor Peter Guth, played approximately two hours of upbeat, uplifting music, just perfect as a prelude to spring. And Peter Guth wasn’t content to just have us sit back and watch. Instead, he had the audience involved throughout the entire concert. We were clapping and stomping our feet and, at one point, he even had us do a wave-like maneuver. After the intermission the entire orchestra came out in full Mardi Gras regalia: masks, clown noses, bald clown heads with lots of hair, space helmets, and other costumes. I’ve never been to a concert until this one where a musician came out a played two anvils with a hammer, stopping to mop up his sweat and drink some water halfway through. Hilarious! And for the last piece, Peter Guth pulled a young boy, age seven or eight, out of the audience to conduct the song. Why? Because he then led his entire violin section down the middle aisle of the theatre, playing away, while the little boy conducted the remaining musicians. The boy may have been a little off-tempo, but he stuck with it! When the conductor and violinists returned to the stage, he asked the young boy to take a bow. When the boy didn’t, Peter Guth simply grabbed the top of his head and pushed him down into a bow. The crowd roared!
Yes, it was quite a night. Many of the students had never been to a classical concert before. Although I can’t promise that they’ll ever see one like this again, I know they all had a grand night at the symphony!
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