Zubin Mehta gets a room

The Teatro Maggio in Florence has inaugurated a Sala Zubin Mehta auditorium in honour of the conductor’s long involvement.

The Italian President Sergio Mattarella was in attendance.

The new space will be used both for rehearsals and to attract international conferences.

Sovrintendente Alexander Pereira says: ‘I’m trying to change the Maggio Fiorentino not only to run from the end of April to the beginning of July, but to make it three festivals: one in the autumn, one during carnival time and one in the usual Maggio time. We will draw lines and play to themes. In autumn 2022, it will be Verdi; for Carnival 2023, Faust; for May 2023, Wagner; autumn 2023, the Second Viennese School, with Berg and Webern. Then we will have Mozart and Rossini for Carnival and Wagner again for the second part of the festival in spring 2024, and in autumn 2024 we will have Puccini because it’s Puccini year. With these clear themes and with top international artists and casts, we will strive to attract the international music travelling public. ‘