I will be visiting Venice, Florence, and Rome for 2 weeks end of Sept./Oct. I would love to know if there is any published info related to music at any of the churches, however informal, or will I just have to get lucky on walking and stopping in to the many churches. I was fortunate to have poked my head in to a non-descript door in Montmartre recently and believe I was hearing an organ practice session. I couldn't see anyone playing but I heard voices, and it had that start/stop feel of a lesson. It was an amazing peaceful sound. Any suggestions? ty as always to the RS Forum.
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
4458 posts
In Oct 2019 I heard someone practicing in a church in the Oltrano section of Florence. I think it was late afternoon. We stopped there briefly on a Walks of Italy Food Tour.
Posted by
Western Canada
3225 posts
https://stmarksitaly.com/
This church in Florence often has musical evenings.
Not free, but a lovely space.
I have also overheard a lovely choir practice at the Chiesa Evangelical Valdese in Florence when we stayed in an apartment right next door.
Via Pier Antonio Micheli next to the Orto Botanico.
Venice has Vivaldi Concerts most nights.
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1564 posts
In Florence, S. Lorenzo and S. Felicita have high level music but on occasional basis. Duomo has its chapel but long reverb time does not make for optimal listening. The best concert organs (I mean the pipe instruments) are at S. Miniato and at the small Lutheran church on the Lungarno Torrigiani; most churches have adequate but not outstanding organs - this also because for centuries Italian built mostly very small and simple instruments (two of them, for example, at SS. Annunziata, with a larger and more modern one.)
Interestingly, Pistoia has the fame of being an organ city as they had their own organ building tradition and now have a good organ academy. A big and fine modern organ is in the Collegiata (main church) at Empoli.
Of course no city can compare with Paris; in the 19th century Cavaillé-Coll built several large and fine historic organs and the largest churches have a tradition of offering organ tenure to some of the best soloists in the world.
Posted by
OP
New Jersey
152 posts
What great info ty. I will look these up and see where it leads. Inspired so ty.
Posted by
Rural Georgia
2141 posts
You might consider attending a vesper service at a church or monastery. When we were in Tuscany, we attended the evening service and the Abbey of Monte Oliveto. It is celebrated in Gregorian chant. Other than the monks, there was just us and on lady from a nearby village. The monks encouraged us to participate in the responses and gave us the materials they used in the service.
It was a very moving experience for my wife and me. I did a quick search on the web and there are monasteries in Florence, Venice and Rome, such as The Charerhouse in Florence. There's evening prayer services at The Basilica San Marco in Venice. Also try Sant' Anselmo in Rome.
Posted by
OP
New Jersey
152 posts
Ty wonderful ideas. Much appreciated