Tastes and Sounds of Tuscany
Tastes and Sounds of Tuscany is a musical and gastronomical event in the wonderful Tuscan city of Lucca. Each of these spectacles features a concert which is part of the city's highly regarded Puccini e la sua Lucca Festival. After the music is over, the evening's entertainment resumes at one of two exceptionally welcoming restaurants in the heart of the city, both near to Piazza dell’Anfiteatro and not far from the concert venue. Combining the tastes of Tuscany with music by the great operatic maestro Giacomo Puccini, who was born in Lucca, will make for a memorable evening that will linger.
There are seven different concerts to choose from with varied programmes that will delight fans of Puccini as well as devotees of other composers and traditional songs. On Mondays, Puccini & Mozart features some of the most well-known music by both composers. The following evening, on Tuesdays, a concert of Puccini's Women means that the female roles of the operatic maestro take centre stage. An Italian Opera Evening is available to concert-goers on Wednesdays, featuring works by Gaetano Donizetti, Pietro Mascagni and others in addition to Puccini. Thursdays are devoted to Puccini & Verdi and these concerts include works from La Traviata, Madama Butterfly and Turandot to name just three featured operas. On Fridays, the programme is entirely given over to the Italian composer himself with a Puccini Opera Recital, while Saturday evenings consist of A Night at the Opera with works drawn from all over the operatic repertoire, including music from Puccini's extensive career, of course. Finally, Puccini & The Traditional Neapolitan Song is staged on Sundays, a concert that includes some of the maestro's best-known arias plus iconic Neapolitan songs such as O sole mio and Torna a Surriento.
Tastes and Sounds of Tuscany continues after the music at either Rokko's Ristorante Bistrot or Cavaradossi Bar & Restaurant, both a stone's throw from each other. At whichever venue you choose to attend, there is an inclusive three-course menu consisting of a starter, pasta dish and main course. You may choose your meal from any of the available options, each dish offering a culinary insight into the cooking traditions of this beautiful part of Italy. In addition to the food, one bottle of red wine is included. Desserts and other drinks are available for an additional charge. Given that these events offer such insights into Puccini's timeless music and include a gastronomic exploration of traditional Luccan cuisine, they each make for an enchanting evening of entertainment and dining pleasure.