Wednesday night “mi amor” guitar concert. Grand finale Friday with
“Cavalleria Rusticana,” an evening promoted by the Amici della Lirica “Umberto Borsò.”
The grand finale is approaching for the Castellano Musical June, a festival under the stars held in the picturesque setting of the Monastery of Santa Maria della Marca. Two Concerts are scheduled this week, under the banner of good music: on Wednesday evening (9 p.m.), make way for “Guitarra mi amor,” guitar ensemble “La Piccola” from the School of Music directed by Elena Del Siena, which will be followed by a performance by soloist Luigi Mario Murru entitled “Concierto de Aranjuez” the best-known work by composer Joaquín Rodrigo, conducted by Giovanni Mancini (by Orchestra Orpheus).
Friday night – also at 9 p.m. – the festival finale with “Cavalleria Rusticana,” an opera by Pietro Mascagni based on the novella of the same name by Giovanni Verga. The evening, sponsored by the Amici della Lirica “Umberto Borsò” association, will feature on stage the Orpheus orchestra conducted by Gabriele Centorbi and some 60 choristers, thanks to the joint participation of the Amedeo Bassi Chorale of Montespertoli and the newly formed Castellano Opera Chorus. There will also be two singers (a soprano and a tenor) selected by the association during auditions held in January, who will be presented with the first prize dedicated to Umberto Borsò, an award strongly desired by the association and the family of the famous tenor.
“Cavalleria Rusticana,” as it is known, tells of a jealousy drama set in Vizzini, a town in Sicily, in the aftermath of the Unification of Italy. The inner courtyard of the Monastery of Santa Maria della Marca was deemed perfectly suited to reproduce the atmosphere and context in which this love story, narrated by Giovanni Verga and published in the collection “Vita nei campi,” takes place. The set design, costumes and direction are entrusted to the care of Franco Spina. Admission to the evening will be by free offer while seats last, with pre-emption for members and supporters of the fundraiser that the Amici della Lirica association has promoted in conjunction with the festival.
“This week concludes the Giugno Musicale Castellano,” emphasizes Deputy Mayor, Claudia Centi, “a festival that has been a great success and that also this year gave added value to the commitment of the community as a whole in trying to rediscover and enhance the Monastery of Santa Maria della Marca. For this I would like to thank all the musical and cultural associations in the area that collaborated in the organization of this review, from the Orpheus Association to the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Foundation, from the School of Music to the Amici della Lirica Umberto Borsò Association.”
The Monastery of Santa Maria della Marca is located at 7 Via delle Monache. In case of rain, concerts will be held in the Church of Santa Chiara. The Giugno Musicale Castellano is promoted by the City of Castelfiorentino and the Orpheus Association in collaboration with the “Amici della Lirica Umberto Borsò” Association, the School of Music and the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Foundation, thanks to the contribution of the Banca Cambiano 1884 Spa