Festival Puccini in Torre del Lago, directed by Alberto Veronesi, is one of the most important opera festivals in Italy. It takes place during the summer months of July and August in a spot that was very dear to Puccini. He lived and worked here in his villa for a long time. His villa now hosts the Puccini museum. Puccini, in the last year of his life, expressed his wish to see one of his operas put on stage on the banks of the lake.
Every year, around 40,000 spectators turn out for the shows in this great open-air theatre. They are attracted to the beauty of the setting along with the prestige associated with the operas, where only the world's best performers take part.
In 2001, the Fondazione Festival Pucciniano started up a project called "Scolpire l'Opera". The sets for the festival productions are put into the hands of highly reputable figurative artists, confirming the idea of opera as a"complete work of art" made of images as well as music and texts. Ken Yasuda, Igor Mitoraj and Jean Michel Folon have signed sets for the festival. The artisans of the Cittadella del carnevale di Viareggio as well as experienced sculptures from Pietrasanta collaborate in realising the sets.
On the 15th of June of 2008 has been inaugurated the new great open air theatre, part of a wide music park dedicated to Giacomo Puccini.

Programme

LA BOHEME
July: 10, 15, 19
August: 1, 14, 21

TOSCA
July: 11 , 17 , 26
August: 9, 20

TURANDOT
July: 18, 25, 31
August 7, 22

MANON LESCAUT
August: 2 , 8, 13

IL LAGO DEI CIGNI - BALLETTO
12 August
Balletto di Mosca
Orchestra del Festival Puccini

GISELLE - BALLETTO
19 August
Balletto di Mosca
Orchestra del Festival Puccini

GALA LIRICO
Angela Gheorghiu, Direttore Alberto Veronesi, Orchestra del Festival Puccini
23 August