Events 2020 Taormina&Sicily

Dear friends and guests of Hotel Villa Schuler,

after the lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic, cultural life has started again in Italy, Sicily and Taormina. All Italian museums and archaeological sites are open. This apllies to all regions of Italy.

The famous Ancient Theatre of Taormina due to ongoing works changed its opening hours, at the moment until mid July it is open: daily from 17.00 h to 22.00 h / July and August daily from 9.00 to 19.45 h / September daily from 9.00 to 19.15 h / October daily from 9.00 to 18.15 h / November daily from 9.00 to 16.45 h.  Every first Sunday of the month: entrance free (please purchase tickets – even for the free entrance day – online: aditusculture.com)

The Taormina Arte Sicilia Foundation from July 19 onwards has started off again with a long summer season of quality events dedicated to dance, music and the excellence of Italian theatre. The Taormina Arte Sicilia Foundation inaugurated its season of events at the Teatro Antico by implementing all safety measures and adapting, in respect of the social distancing rules, all the spaces of the extraordinary archaeological site, in collaboration with the Archaeological Park of Naxos-Taormina.

The program has been scheduled among others in collaboration with the Bellini Theatre of Catania and the Sicilian Symphony Orchestra.

There are other events scheduled at the Antique Theatre of Toarmina and in other locations. We will keep you up to date.

Highlights 2020 

June 2020

June 21 (18.00 h)
Live Stream from The Antique Theatre – Taormina
Festa della Musica The Italian «feast of music» will be celebrated by more than 9000 musicians all over Italy, they will perform on places and streets, in palazzi and museums, train stations, prisons and hospitals. Spectators can enjoy all genres from Jazz to Soul, Classical music to rock, baroque music in costume to heavy metal. In Taormina the association Taormina Arte celebrates the opening of the Summer Events 2020 at the Antique Theatre with a live transmission via Facebook. The concert with the Orchestra a plettro Città di Taormina and the band  191 Blues – Sicilian Blues the live stream will be accessible on the site of Taormina arte on FB https://www.facebook.com/fondazionetaorminartesicilia

July 2020

July 3 (19.30 h)
Tenuta San Michele – Via Zafferana 13,  Santa Venerina (CT)
Dino Rubino Trio the Murgo wine resort organizes an open air Jazz concert at their
Agriturismo Tenuta San Michele. Dino Rubino (piano), Nello Toscano (double bass) and Enzo Zirilli (drums)  perform improvisational Jazz, american and italian songs and more.
Info and reservations: tel. +393483382958 or eventi@murgo.it

July 4 (21.00 h)
Excelsior Palace Hotel – Taormina
Taormina Jazz Festival – Jazz in Sicily 2020 with the Dino Rubino Trio. Dino Rubino (piano), Nello Toscano (double bass) and Enzo Zirilli (drums).
Info: facebook.com/TaorminaJazzFestival

July 11 (21.00 h)
Excelsior Palace Hotel – Taormina
Taormina Jazz Festival – Jazz in Sicily 2020 with the  Raffaele Genovese Trio. Raffaele Genovese (piano), Carmelo Venuto (double bass) and Emanuele Primavera (drums).
Info: facebook.com/TaorminaJazzFestival

July 11 to 19
Online, Congress Center and Teatro Antico – Taormina
66th edition of  the Taormina Film Fest The 2020 edition of the famous Film Fest has been modified to an OnlineEvent. It will show a selection of more than 40 previews of international prime productions, independant films and documentaries. The competition part of the festival will now take place inside the Taormina Congress center for a limited audience. All other categories are changed to an Online form, performed on the platform MyMovies.
Info: taoarte.it

July 19 (20.30 h)
Teatro Antico – Taormina
66th Taormina Film Fest – Closing Gala. The Film Fest, being held for the first time in its history as an Online Event, will end in the classical way, with a Gala event at the Teatro Antico. With the protagonists and winners of the competition, with the award ceremony of the prizes «Carridi», Maschere di Polifemo» and the «Taormina Arte Awards». With the participation of the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana. The eveing will be hosted by the artistic director of the Festival Leo Gullotta.  
Info: taoarte.it

July 20
Teatro Antico -Taormina
Beethoven marathon with the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana conducted by Umberto Benedetti Michelangeli. A journey that begins with five evenings dedicated to the musical genius Ludwig van Beethoven and his most fruitful artistic period: the nine Symphonies and the legendary Piano Concerts. Piano Concert  n. 1 in C major op.15 and Symphony n. 5 in C minor op. 67
Info: taoarte.it and tel. 391. 746. 2146

July 21
Teatro Antico -Taormina
Beethoven marathon with the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana conducted by Umberto Benedetti Michelangeli. Symphony n. 8 in F major op. 93 and Symphony n. 6 in F major op. 68
Info: taoarte.it and tel. 391. 746. 2146

July 22
Teatro Antico -Taormina
Beethoven marathon with the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana conducted by Umberto Benedetti Michelangeli.  Concert for piano and orchestra no. 3 in C minor op. 37e Symphony no. 3 in E flat major op. 55
Info: taoarte.it and tel. 391. 746. 2146

July 23
Teatro Antico -Taormina
Beethoven marathon with the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana conducted by Umberto Benedetti Michelangeli Concert for piano and orchestra no. 5 in E flat major op. 73 and Symphony no. 7 in A major op. 92
Info: taoarte.it and tel. 391. 746. 2146

July 24
Teatro Antico -Taormina
Beethoven marathon with the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana conducted by Umberto Benedetti Michelangeli Symphony n. 9 in D minor for solo choir and orchestra op. 125 with the Sicilian Opera Choir. The 9th Symphony, a technical and social masterpiece with the introduction of the choir, will close this first part of concerts at the Antique Theatre.
Info: taoarte.it and tel. 391. 746. 2146

July 25
Teatro Antico -Taormina
American Movies. Concert with the Orchestra of the Bellini Theatre Catania performing  15 famous American movie soundtracks by the late Morricone and Williams, Barry, Badelt, Horner. A wonderful concert completely dedicated to America and the most representative films in a fantastic journey through myths, symbolic places and through a century of history
Info: taoarte.it and tel. 391. 746. 2146

July 25 (21.00 h)
Excelsior Palace Hotel – Taormina
Taormina Jazz Festival – Jazz in Sicily 2020 with Urban Fabula. Sebi Burgio (piano), Alberto Fidone (double bass) and Peppe Tringali (drums).
Info: facebook.com/TaorminaJazzFestival

July 30
Teatro Antico -Taormina
Opera Concert with Solists, Choir and Orchestra of the Bellini Theatre Catania with La Traviata one of Giuseppe Verdi’s most famous operas for soloists, choir and orchestra
Info: taoarte.it and tel. 391. 746. 2146

August 2020

August 1 (20.00 h)
Parco Trevelyan – Taormina
Orchestra a Plettro Città di Taormina. Concert with the Plucked Instruments Orchestra of the city of Taormina, condudcted by Leonardo D’Agostino, performing musics by Ennio Morricone, other film music tracks like La suite of Pirates of the Carribean by Zimmer and La Vita è bella by Piovani, Tango music by Piazzolla and Valzes by Tiersen and Gioviale, as well as some classic notes by Mozart. The event is part of the FestAmbiente organized by Legambiente Taormina-Alcantara in collaboration with the city of Taormina.

August 1 (21.30 h)
Teatro Antico – Taormina
Cavalleria Rusticana t h e Sicilian opera, by Pietro Mascagni. The libretto is based on a short story and play by Giovanni Verga. A damatic story of deathly jealousy in a Sicilian village. New Production of the «Festival Lirico dei Teatri di Pietra» in coproduction with the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana conducted by Francesco Di Mauro. Santuzza: Elena Lo Forte, Turiddu: Angelo Villari, Alfio: Alberto Mastromarino, Lucia: Maria Motta, Lola: Leonora Sofia. Choir: Coro Lirico Siciliano
Info:  ticketone.it

August 2 (20.00 h)
Parco Trevelyan – Taormina
Orchestra a Plettro Città di Taormina. Concert with the Plucked Instruments Orchestra of the city of Taormina, conducted by Antonino Pellitteri, performing musics such as the famous ‘Intermezzo’ from the Sicilian opera ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ di Mascagni; the ‘Gran Valzer’ di Verdi, film music from ‘Il Gattopardo’ by Luchino Visconti; ‘Momento siciliano’ by the mandoline player Pancrazio Gulotta from Taormina. The programm will be concluded by an omage to the great film music composer Ennio Morricone. The event is part of the FestAmbiente organized by Legambiente Taormina-Alcantara in collaboration with the city of Taormina.

August 2 (21.30 h)
Teatro Antico – Taormina
Premio di Stefano. Giuseppe di Stefano International Award. Giuseppe Di Stefano was one of the greatest tenors in the history of opera. Historical partner of Maria Callas, chosen by the great artist to be at her side in some of the most successful evenings in the opera history. Also this year, in the incomparable setting of the Ancient Theatre of Taormina, there will be a memorable evening, where some of the greatest artists of the world opera and cultural scene will pay homage to the great Sicilian tenor and will receive the International Giuseppe Di Stefano Prize. With the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana, Sicilian Opera Choir, the pianist Ruben Micieli, conductor Francesco Costa.
Info:  ticketone.it

August 5 (21.00 h)
Teatro Antico – Taormina
Diodato the Italian singer-songwriter in concert. He won the 70th edition of the Sanremo Music Festival 2020 with the song «Fai rumore» and was scheduled to represent Italy in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam before it was cancelled due to the Corona Pandemy.
Info: puntoeacapo.uno and ticketone.it

August 8
Teatro Antico – Taormina
Medea drama by Euripides, an adaption directed by Gabriele Lavia. With Federica De Marina and Simone Toni. The Teatro Antico is the perfect setting for Euripide’s most famous tragedy, which tells us about the difficulty of Medea to be accepted as a woman, and not to be imploded by the mere role of caretaker and mother.
Info: taoarte.it and tel. 391. 746. 2146

August 9
Teatro Antico – Taormina
The Dream of a Ridiculous Man by Fedor Dostoevsky. Gabriele Lavia becomes an actor and plays this deep and passionate reflection on the condition of the human being. The monologue represents a world that has condemned itself to suffering, self-contained, locked and forced into a metaphorical straitjacket, condition and impediment of all good deeds. Gabriele Lavia chose to re-enact it to reaffirm strongly that indifference, corruption and degeneration cannot be the living conditions of our society.
Info: taoarte.it and tel. 391. 746. 2146

August 11 (21.00 h)
Teatro Antico – Taormina
Aida Opera by Giuseppe Verdi, set in the old kingdom of Egypt. Aida is an Ethiopian princess captured by the Egyptians. The Egyptian military commander Radamès loves her and struggles with his love and his loyalty to the King of Egypt. To complicate everyathing, the King’s daughter Amneris is in love with Radamès, while he does not return her feelings.
Info:  ticketone.it

August 12
Teatro Antico -Taormina
Concert with the Choir and Orchestra of the Bellini Theatre Catania with Carl Orff’s masterpiece, Carmina Burana, a scenic cantata composed between 1935 and 1936, based on 24 poems among those found in the medieval collection of the same name;
Info: taoarte.it and tel. 391. 746. 2146

August 13 (21.30 h)
Teatro Antico -Taormina
Sono solo canzonette with Edoardo Bennato  the singer-songwriter from Naples in a concert with high rock & blues content: songs from the album «Sono solo canzonette» to his great classics. On stage the «Be Band», formed by Giuseppe Scarpato (guitars), Raffaele Lopez (keyboards), Gennaro Porcelli (guitars), Arduino Lopez (bass), Roberto Perrone (drums), togehter with the «Quartetto Flegreo».
Info: taoarte.it and tel. 391. 746. 2146

August 14
Teatro Antico -Taormina
Taormina Lyrik Summer Concert. Grand Gala in honour of Vincenzo Bellini, the most beloved Sicilian composer in the world.
Info: taoarte.it and tel. 391. 746. 2146

August 16
Teatro Antico – Taormina
International Guitar Night a great party with hundred virtuos guitarists including Bireli Lagrene, Yamondou Costa, Francesco Buzzurro, Adam Palma.
Info: taoarte.it and tel. 391. 746. 2146

August 20 (21.00 h)
Teatro Antico – Taormina
Puccini and Verdi Opera Gala with the pianist Ruben Micieli, conductor Francesco Costa. An opportunity to appreciate great voices of the national and international opera scene.  Arias from «La Bohème», «Madama Butterfly», «Tosca», «Il Tabarro», «Turandot», «La Fanciulla del West», «Don Carlo», «Aida», «Il Trovatore», «Rigoletto», «La Traviata», «Ernani», «Un Ballo in Maschera and «Nabbucco».
Info:  ticketone.it

August 22 (21.00 h) 
Teatro Antico – Taormina
Alessio Carbone with Les Italiens de l’Opera de Paris, Valentine Colasante, Ambre Chiarcosso, Antonio Conforti, Giorgio Fourès, Francesco Mura, Sofia Rosolini, Andrea Sarri, Bianca Scudamore and Simone Valastro: these are the dancers of Italian origin of the Paris Opera led by Alessio Carbone on stage. In program solos and pas de deux from Swan Lake, Le Corsaire, Don Quichotte and The Dying Swan next to choreographies by Ben Stevenson, Angelin Preljocaj, Mauro Bigonzetti and William Forsythe. With the special participation of Marianela Núnez, Etoile of the Royal Ballet.
Info: taoarte.it

August 25
Teatro Antico -Taormina
Concert with the Orchestra d’archi  del Teatro Massimo Bellini (Catania) with Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Solist and conductor: Giulio Plutino.
Info: taoarte.it and tel. 391. 746. 2146

August 26 (21.00 h)
Teatro Antico – Taormina
Opera Made in Sicily – Opera Gala with Sicilian opera stars such as Simone Alaimo, Pietro Ballo, Jessica Nuccio, Enea Scala. Pianist Ruben Micieli, Sicilian Opera Choir, conductor Francesco Costa. A tribute to the Catanese composer Vincenzo Bellini with arias from Norma, I Puritani and Sonnambula; to Giuseppe Verdi, with extracts from Nabucco, La Traviata, Il Trovatore and Aida, and to Gioacchino Rossini with arias from Il Barbiere di Siviglia, l’Italiana in Algeri and Cenerentola.
Info: ticketone.it

August 27 (21.30 h)
Teatro Antico – Taormina
I tre tenori with special guests Le Div4s. The three Tenors are Raffaele Tassone, Paolo Spagnuolo and Delfo Paone, accompanied at the piano by Davide Dellisanti. An event organized by the Festival Taormina Opera Stars and the Taormina Arte Foundation. The event is an omage to a historic concert of the three great tenors Placido Domingo, Josè Carreras e Luciano Pavarotti, that took place in the year 1990 at the Terme di Caracalla in Rome. The three tenors will perform musc by Verdi, Puccini, Leoncavallo and Mascagni as well as popular songs of the italian and neapolitanian repertoire. The guest stars of the evening, Le Div4s, will perform an omage to Ennio Morricone with a medly of famous film musics.
Info and tickets: taoarte.it and ticketone.it

August 29 (21.00 h)
Teatro Antico – Taormina
Daniele Silvestri The singer-songwriter and musician from Rome decided to set a sign of hope for performing artists and for Taormina and decided to n o t postpone his concert scheduled for this 2020 season. He will perform with his excellent band composed by Piero Monterisi (drums), Gabriele Lazzarotti (bass), Gianluca Misiti (keyyboards), Daniele Fiaschi (guitars), Marco Santoro (fagot and trumpet), Jose Ramon Caraballo Armas (trumpet and percussions), Duilio Galioto (piano).
Info and tickets: danielesilvestri.it and ctbox.it

August 31 (21.00 h)
Teatro Antico – Taormina
Aida Opera by Giuseppe Verdi, set in the old kingdom of Egypt. Aida is an Ethiopian princess captured by the Egyptians. The Egyptian military commander Radamès loves her and struggles with his love and his loyalty to the King of Egypt. To complicate everyathing, the King’s daughter Amneris is in love with Radamès, while he does not return her feelings.
Info:  ticketone.it

 

September 2020

September 2 (21.30 h)
Teatro Antico – Taormina
LOVE with Eleonora Abbagnato,  the  Italian ballet dancer, model, and actress, currently an Étoile at the Paris Opera Ballet. Abbagnato was set to retire from Paris Opera Ballet after a performance in 2019, which had to be delayed due to a dancers’ strike. She will dance Giuliano Peparini’s choreography “Love is a work in a single time” that sees the protagonist love in all its declinations, love for the environment, for others, for oneself, for one’s partner, children. Abbagnato will be accomapnied by her collegue and Étoile at the Paris Opera Ballet Hugo Marchand and  a cast of 12 dancers of high artistic level. The soundtrack will be a collage of various songs ranging from baroque music to Frank Sinatra’s songs.
Info: taoarte.it

September 3
Teatro Antico -Taormina
Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi
Info: ticketone.it

September 4
Teatro Antico -Taormina
Emotions – Journey through the songs of Lucio Battisti with Mogol, Gianmarco Carroccia and Orchestra.
Info: taoarte.it and tel. 391. 746. 2146

September 5 and 6
Teatro Antico – Taormina
Travelling with music…beyond space. A multimedia musical project dedicated to the first woman in space, the Russian Valentina Tereshkova. A coproduction of Taormina Arte, the Valentina Tereshkoca Foundation and the Sicilian Symphony Orchestra Foundation.
Info: taoarte.it and tel. 391. 746. 2146

September 7 and 8  (21.30 h)
Teatro Antico – Taormina
Cavalleria Rusticana t h e Sicilian opera, by Pietro Mascagni. The libretto is based on a short story and play by Giovanni Verga. A dramatic story of deathly jealousy in a Sicilian village. New concertante Production of the «Festival Lirico dei Teatri di Pietra» in coproduction with the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana conducted by Francesco Di Mauro. Santuzza: Elena Lo Forte, Turiddu: Angelo Villari, Alfio: Alberto Mastromarino, Lucia: Maria Motta, Lola: Leonora Sofia. Choir: Coro Lirico Siciliano
Info:  ticketone.it

September 9 (21.30 h)
Teatro Antico – Taormina
Francesco Gabbiani in concert with his program “Inedito Acustico” (Unedited acoustic). The winner of the newcomer’s section of the Sanremo Music Festival 2016 has been successfulsince then. He participated in San Remo Festival 2020 with his song Viceversa and won the second place, as did his single “Viceversa” on the Italian Single Chart.
Info and tickets: francescogabbiani.com and ticketone.it

September 10
Teatro Antico -Taormina
Phaedra directed by Giovanni Anfuso.
Info: taoarte.it and tel. 391. 746. 2146

September 19
Teatro Antico -Taormina
Nations Award Taormina. 15th edition of the International Film Award. The 2020 award for recitation will be given to the french actor Jean Sorel, who worked with numerous directors such as Visconti, Risi, Bolognini, Bunuel and Lumet. The director’s award will be given to Abel Ferrara, one of the most important directors of American independant film.
Info: nationsaward.it

September 20 (21.30 h)
Teatro Antico -Taormina
Concert with the Orchestra of the Bellini Theatre Catania, conducted by Christopher Franklin, with the Bolero by Maurice Ravel,  An American in Paris and Cuban Overture by Gershwin.  
Info: taoarte.it and tel. 391. 746. 2146, tickets: ctbox.it

September 26 (18.30 h)
Parco Trevelyan -Taormina
Mandolini al Parco an concert with the Plucked Instrument’s Orchestra of Taormina Orchetra da plettro Città di Taormina conducted by Antonino Pelliteri. Admission free.
Info: orchestraaplettro.it

Last update: September 21, 2020