Tenors in the Cattedrale dell’Immagine
Opera arias and Neapolitan songs from live tenors and a chamber ensemble of piano, double bass and mandolin, in a former church in Piazza di Santo Stefano.
Which opera evening in Florence?
Which opera concert, and what is this one?
The short answer. It is a tenors’ concert, not a staged opera. Live tenors and a chamber ensemble sing opera arias and Neapolitan songs in the Cattedrale dell’Immagine, a former Romanesque church in Piazza di Santo Stefano. For one evening of famous tenor music it is an easy first opera in Florence. For an opera with a plot, sets and a full cast, the city’s opera house is the place.
What it is
The booking page describes a concert of Italian opera arias and traditional Neapolitan songs by tenors, with a chamber ensemble of piano, double bass and mandolin and choreographies by dancers. Its title names Nessun dorma, the best-known aria from Turandot. The programme can differ from night to night.
What it isn’t
It does not stage a whole opera, and it is not the 1990 concert of Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras that inspired the title. The performers are other singers. Wikipedia reports that the recording of that Rome night outsold every other classical album.
How to choose
Want the tunes everyone knows, in a building with history, in about an hour and a half? This concert. Want one opera told from the first act to the last? Book a full opera. Want a host who explains each piece? The Teatro Nazionale concert among the booking options is built for that.
The concert in four lines
- Where
- Piazza di Santo Stefano, Florence, near the Ponte Vecchio.
- On stage
- Tenors with a chamber ensemble of piano, double bass and mandolin.
- The music
- Opera arias and traditional Neapolitan songs.
- Length
- About 1.5 hours.
On the programme
Six pieces you may hear
An aria is a formal song for one voice inside an opera. The booking page names arias based on La traviata, Rigoletto and Tosca and the songs ’O sole mio and Funiculì, Funiculà; the title adds Nessun dorma.
- 01 Nessun dorma Turandot, in the last act
Sung by the unknown prince Calaf at night, as heralds announce that nobody in the city may sleep. Wikipedia calls it an expression of triumphant assurance that he will win.
- 02 Brindisi La traviata, a drinking song
Wikipedia describes the Brindisi as a drinking song that the crowd asks Alfredo, a tenor role, to sing. Verdi’s opera first played at La Fenice in Venice on 6 March 1853.
- 03 La donna è mobile Rigoletto, the Duke’s aria
The cynical aria of the Duke of Mantua, a tenor role, says Wikipedia. Rigoletto opened at La Fenice in Venice on 11 March 1851.
- 04 E lucevan le stelle Tosca, in the last act
Sung by the painter Cavaradossi as he waits to be executed and writes to Tosca. Wikipedia calls it a farewell to love and life.
- 05 ’O sole mio Naples, 1898
A song in the Neapolitan language written in 1898, with words by Giovanni Capurro and music credited to Eduardo di Capua. The title means my sun.
- 06 Funiculì, Funiculà Naples, 1880
Luigi Denza’s tune, with words by Peppino Turco, celebrates the first funicular railway up Vesuvius, says Wikipedia.
Programmes change with the singers, so treat these six as hints for listening, never as a set order.
The evening, in order
From the piazza to the last note
Trust the start time on your confirmation.
- 1 Arrive
Find Piazza di Santo Stefano
The concert is in the Cattedrale dell’Immagine, which Wikipedia places a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio. The booking page puts it a few steps from Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery.
- 2 Settle
Take a seat in the old church
Between 1631 and 1655 the church’s three aisles were turned into one open hall, Wikipedia says. There is no specific dress code.
- 3 Listen
Tenors and a chamber ensemble
Tenors sing opera arias and Neapolitan songs with piano, double bass and mandolin. The booking page also mentions choreographies by dancers.
- 4 Between
Between the pieces
Reviewers call the tenors entertaining as well as skilled, and one wished each song had been introduced by name. Pictures and videos are allowed without flash.
- 5 After
Cross the Arno
The Ponte Vecchio spans the river at its narrowest point, says Wikipedia, and was rebuilt in 1345.
Three ways to spend an opera night
Three ways to spend an opera evening in Florence
| Evening | What you get | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Tenors’ concert, Cattedrale dell’Immagine | Opera arias and Neapolitan songs from tenors with a chamber ensemble, in a former church. | A first opera evening of famous tunes. |
| Opera concert, Teatro Nazionale | A pianist, two opera soloists and a host explaining each piece, with projections on an LED wall. | Listeners who want the stories behind the arias. |
| A full opera at the opera house | A complete staged opera told from the first act to the last. Wikipedia dates the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino to late April through June. | Anyone who wants the whole drama. |
The ticket, in six lines
What the ticket covers
Six points to settle first.
- The concert
- A live concert of opera arias and traditional Neapolitan songs by tenors with a chamber ensemble, in the Cattedrale dell’Immagine in Florence.
- Length
- The booking page gives about 1.5 hours, with the start time beside each date.
- Food, drinks and transport
- The ticket is for the concert. The booking page does not describe dinner, drinks or transport as part of it, so plan those separately.
- Dress and photos
- No specific dress code. Pictures and videos are allowed without flash.
- Access
- Wheelchair access is shown for this concert on the booking page.
- Cast
- Singers, musicians and dancers can change, and one reviewer saw one dancer where the booking page mentions two. Read the programme as a guide, not a promise.
Around the church
The church, the bridge and an old opera house
The Ponte Vecchio at dusk, the church interior, Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo, the courtyard of Palazzo Pitti where the oldest surviving opera was first sung, the nave during a projection show and the Teatro della Pergola.
Booking options
The Nessun dorma concert, and three more Florence bookings
Four options sit side by side: the Nessun dorma concert this site is about, an opera concert with a host at the Teatro Nazionale, the Uffizi Gallery and the climb of Brunelleschi’s Dome.
An opera concert with a host
A pianist and two opera soloists at the Teatro Nazionale Firenze, with a host explaining each piece and projections on an LED wall. The soloists change from night to night.
The Uffizi, all collections
A ticket to the Uffizi Gallery with all its collections and an audio app, in the same part of Florence as the concert.
Brunelleschi’s Dome
Entry to climb Brunelleschi’s Dome, with the Duomo, for views over the city.
More to book in Florence
Before you go
Before you go
Where it is
Piazza di Santo Stefano, 50122 Florence: the Cattedrale dell’Immagine, inside the former church of Santo Stefano al Ponte. Enter the address in a map app first.
Close by
The booking page places the concert a few steps from Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizi Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio, so the walk before or after fits easily around it.
Start time
The calendar shows a start time against each date, and your confirmation email repeats it.
What to wear
There is no specific dress code. Some reviewers say the hall gets warm near the front, so a layer you can take off helps.
Photos
Pictures and videos are allowed during the concert, without flash.
If plans change
Booking terms allow a refund when you cancel 24 hours or more ahead, and payment can wait until later.
Guides
Six guides to opera in Florence
- Start here
Opera concert in Florence
Which opera concert to see in Florence, and what the Nessun dorma tenors’ concert near the Ponte Vecchio is and is not. Every fact is sourced. Read the guide → - Compare
Tenor concert or full opera?
A tenors’ concert or a full opera in Florence? What each gives you, where full operas are staged and which evening suits a first-timer. Read the guide → - The music
Nessun dorma, explained
What Nessun dorma is, the moment in Turandot where Calaf sings it, why it became a World Cup song and why it names the Florence concert. Read the guide → - History
Florence: where opera began
How a circle of Florentine humanists, Jacopo Peri’s Dafne and the 1600 Euridice at Palazzo Pitti gave the world opera, in plain sentences with sources. Read the guide → - The music
Neapolitan songs, explained
What a Neapolitan song is, the stories of ’O sole mio and Funiculì, Funiculà, how tenors carried them abroad and what the mandolin adds. Read the guide → - The venue
The Cattedrale dell’Immagine
The Cattedrale dell’Immagine is a former Romanesque church beside the Ponte Vecchio, now a concert and immersive art venue. Its history, sourced. Read the guide →
FAQ
Questions to settle before you book
What is the Nessun dorma concert in Florence?
A concert of opera arias and Neapolitan songs sung live by tenors with a chamber ensemble, in the Cattedrale dell’Immagine near the Ponte Vecchio. It is sold as “The Three Tenors in Florence - Nessun Dorma”.
Is it a full opera?
Not at all. Separate arias and songs follow one another, so nothing links them into a single story. A staged opera is a job for the opera house.
Is this the 1990 trio of Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras?
No. The concert says it is inspired by that show. The singers are other tenors, and nothing on the booking page promises those three.
Will I hear Nessun dorma?
The title names it and reviewers mention hearing it, but programmes change, so no piece is promised for a given night.
Where is the concert?
In the Cattedrale dell’Immagine, Piazza di Santo Stefano, 50122 Florence, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio.
How long does it last?
The booking page gives about 1.5 hours, with a start time beside every date.
Is dinner, a drink or transport included?
The ticket is for the concert. The booking page does not describe food, drinks or transport as part of it.
Can I take photos?
Yes, pictures and videos are allowed without flash.
Can I cancel?
Cancelling a day or more ahead is refunded in full under the booking terms, and you may reserve now and pay at a later date.
Opera arias and Neapolitan songs from live tenors, in a Romanesque church near the Ponte Vecchio.
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