If the importance of a town is  reflected in the variety and  the  quality  of the cultural  events Montecatini is with no doubt  a place  of  crucial interest.

Since the 19^th century the greatest Italian opera composers  used to spend some time in Montecatini S.P.A. to have a rest and to get inspiration for their music, which has contributed to make our town well known all over the world. Through the passing of time music and culture have remained vital aspects of the town, confirming the strict link between past and present and making Montecatini an  ideal place for art and emotions. That is why it seemed sensible to create a musical festival representing the town itself, with the aim to promote the knowledge of music and favour the appreciation of the cultural heritage of our region. In particular the Festival presents the great tradition of the opera, offering the new generations, who are tomorrow’s audiences, the opportunity to know a really important part of our  history. 

Montecatini Opera Festival, totally dedicated to opera lovers, is realized by the Parnaso cultural association  with the support of the town council and the Thermae  S.P.A.

The Festival, which started in 1999 with a short season, has gradually grown in number and importance of the events. Nowadays it has become a real tourist   promotion attracting people from different parts of the world. The list of famous international artists who have come and even returned is quite long.

At present the Festival is well merged with the town itself and its inhabitants and it is recognized as one of the great musical festivals taking place in Italy. Its growing  success, proves the appreciation for its formula, where everything, even the small details, are planned and achieved with great care and attention.

Programmes and artists are chosen according to precise criteria. Famous international artists alternate with young artists on the basis of some simple  beliefs: nobody can be indifferent to the beauty of music, even the most difficult, if presented in the adequate way; music doesn’t need translation, its universal language reaches the deepest emotions in the heart of all those who  are willing to listen to it; the talent  of an artist is measured by his capacity to involve the audience emotionally, which is actually the main feature favouring  the knowledge of music; the artist who comes to the stage wearing a “dinner jacket“ with a distant expression does not increase the interest in music.

The season covers a period of 7 months, from April to October. All the events are  performed in the town most suitable places: the Excelsior (a real architectonic jewel and ideal place to enjoy music as in a late 19^th century salon) and the Tettuccio, a fantastic  space, open to the sky, with the  same charming atmosphere which inspired the great composers of the past.

In a collaborative view with other institutions, the Festival has worked with the high qualified Luciano Pavarotti Foundation, the  Verona Arena Theatre, the Foundation Promusica  and other music associations, such as Puccini Opera Association and the Music Association from Lucca. Recently it has  started  its cooperation  with Slow Food Association, based on  the belief of  strict relation between Music and Food, to share extraordinary meeting  occasions.

“What is love for our souls is appetite for our bodies. Eating, loving, singing, digesting, are the four acts of that  comic opera which is LIFE”  (Gioacchino Rossini)   

Among the new features of season 2014 it is worth noticing the prestigious  collaboration with Russian artists from important theatres. In the intercultural relationships between Italy and Russia art and specially music have always expressed a strong link between the two countries, both of them very rich of extraordinary works of art, great music schools and highly gifted artists.