Maggio Musicale opens with Beethoven's Fidelio.

11-21 May 2003. For the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (see Festivals), conducted by Zubin Metha, directed by Robert Carsen.

This year Maggio Musicale Fiorentino marks its 70th anniversary. The celebrations begin with Fidelio by Beethoven. Directed by Robert Carsen, this production went on stage a couple of months ago at the Muziektheatre in Amsterdam. It tells of the perennial battle between power and freedom, good and evil, peace and war, and Carsens rendering is as emotive as ever: the baddies are portrayed as paranoid despots, while the goodies become jibbering, undignified wrecks. Zubin Metha, director of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino orchestra, conducts. Paolo Di Nicola

General Info

Address Teatro Comunale, tel. 055213535, www.maggiofiorentino.com. Tickets can be purchased from the new Maggio Musicale call centre (tel. 199109910), or at all bank branches of Monte dei Paschi di Siena, Banca Toscana and Banca Agricola Mantovana, or on-line at

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Maggio Musicale opens with Beethoven's Fidelio.

Teatro Comunale, tel. 055213535, www.maggiofiorentino.com. Tickets can be purchased from the new Maggio Musicale call centre (tel. 199109910), or at all bank branches of Monte dei Paschi di Siena, Banca Toscana and Banca Agricola Mantovana, or on-line at