100th anniversary of Puccini’s death: music festival in Tuscany

November 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of Giacomo Puccini’s death. The Italian composer created works for eternity such as the operas “Tosca”, “Turandot” and “Madama Butterfly”. In summer, Puccini is honoured at the festival of the same name in Tuscany.

Puccini Festival 2024 in Tuscany

The Puccini Festival is one of the most prestigious opera festivals in Italy and takes place every summer in Tuscany. It is dedicated to the famous Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, who was born in Tuscany in 1858 and created many of his masterpieces there. The festival celebrates the 100th anniversary of Puccini’s death in 2024 with a special programme that pays tribute to his operas and his life.

The Puccini Festival takes place in Torre del Lago, a small town on the shores of Lake Massaciuccoli, which belongs to the municipality of Massarosa in the province of Lucca. Torre del Lago was the home and creative centre of Puccini, who fell in love with the beauty and tranquillity of the lake. The composer built a house there, which is now a museum, and composed many of his operas there. His most famous works include Tosca, Madama Butterfly, La Bohème and Turandot. Puccini also found his final resting place in Torre del Lago. The musical genius was buried in a chapel next to his house.

Puccini’s operas on the lake stage

Several of Puccini’s operas are performed on a spectacular lake stage, which is located directly on the water and offers space for 3,400 spectators. The lake stage was opened in 2008 to mark the 150th anniversary of Puccini’s birth and provides a unique backdrop for the operas. The material for the musical pieces is inspired by nature and the light of the lake. The lake stage is equipped with modern technology and acoustics to ensure the quality and safety of the performances. The programme of the Puccini Festival 2024 includes six operas by Puccini, which will be interpreted by renowned directors, conductors, singers and orchestras. Performances will include the masterpiece La Bohème. The opera tells the touching story of a group of artists living in poverty in 19th century Paris. La Bohème is one of the most popular and most frequently performed operas in the world.

Extensive supporting programme

The Puccini Festival 2024 will be accompanied by an extensive supporting programme that will bring visitors closer to the world of the composer. This includes guided tours of Puccini’s house museum, concerts, lectures, exhibitions, workshops and gastronomic offerings. The Puccini Festival 2024 is a unique opportunity to experience the operas and life of the master in Tuscany, where he found his inspiration and where his memory is as alive 100 years after his death as it was during his lifetime.

Massarosa in Versilia: the centre of Puccini’s life

Puccini was born in Lucca in 1858, but moved to Torre del Lago, a district of Massarosa, in 1891, where he fell in love with the landscape and tranquillity of Lake Massaciuccoli. Massarosa is a municipality in the province of Lucca that stretches between the Apuan Alps and the Versilia coast. The main attraction is Lake Massaciuccoli, a paradise for ornithologists. A 13th century church in the village of Pieve a Elici is well worth a visit. The Pieve di San Pantaleone is a jewel of Romanesque architecture, characterised by a harmonious façade, a richly decorated portal and a beautiful rose window.