In October 2026, the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino presents the world premiere of Romanzo criminale, a new opera by Academy Award–winning composer Nicola Piovani. Commissioned jointly by the Fondazione Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and Fondazione Musica per Roma, the work is based on Giancarlo De Cataldo’s acclaimed bestseller of the same title—a novel that has already inspired a celebrated film and two television series. Now, its powerful story enters the operatic stage, combining literature, music, and drama in a groundbreaking production.
Piovani, whose multifaceted career spans cinema, symphonic works, and opera, brings his distinctive musical voice to this ambitious project, his third opera. The libretto is crafted by De Cataldo himself, ensuring a deep fidelity to the novel’s narrative world. Massimo Popolizio directs, with sets by Margherita Palli, costumes by Silvia Aymonino, and lighting by Pasquale Mari. The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra and Chorus, under chorus master Lorenzo Fratini, bring the score to life.
Set in Rome during the turbulent 1970s and 80s, Romanzo criminale tells the rise and fall of a ruthless criminal gang striving for power and influence. At once a gripping crime saga and a reflection on Italian society, the work delves into themes of loyalty, ambition, corruption, and the blurred boundaries between legality and crime. With its raw intensity and operatic grandeur, the new production embodies the Maggio’s tradition of innovation—“the tradition of the new.”
Romanzo criminale will be staged in Florence from 23 to 31 October 2026, before traveling to Rome’s Auditorium Parco della Musica “Ennio Morricone” in 2027.
The Story of Romanzo Criminale
Romanzo criminale follows the rise and fall of the so-called “Banda della Magliana,” a ruthless Roman gang whose power extended deep into Italian society during the 1970s and 80s. At the center is the charismatic yet merciless “Libanese,” who dreams of unifying Rome’s underworld. Alongside him are his loyal but volatile companions: the cold-blooded Freddo, the unpredictable Bufalo, and the ambitious Dandy. Together, they forge an empire built on violence, drugs, and intimidation.
But their growing influence soon attracts not only rival gangs but also corrupt politicians and shadowy forces of the state. Inspector Scialoia relentlessly pursues them, torn between duty and his forbidden love for Patrizia, a woman entangled in the gang’s orbit.
As betrayals mount and loyalties fracture, the fragile brotherhood collapses. The opera culminates in tragedy, where ambition and crime consume the very men who sought to dominate the city.
By adapting De Cataldo’s celebrated novel into an operatic form, Piovani transforms this crime saga into a broader reflection on power, morality, and destiny, amplifying its intensity through music and dramatic staging.
Cast and Creative Team of Romanzo Criminale
Libretto by Giancarlo De Cataldo
New commission of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and “Musica per Roma”
New staging
Conductor • Nicola Piovani
Director • Massimo Popolizio
Sets • Margherita Palli
Costumes • Silvia Aymonino
Lights • Pasquale Mari
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra and Chorus
Chorus master • Lorenzo Fratini
Patrizia • Vanessa Goikoetxea
Dandy • Anthony Ciaramitaro
Scialoia • Matteo Desole
Terribile • Toni Nežić
Libanese • William Hernandez
Bufalo • Alberto Petricca
Freddo • Gonzalo Godoy Sepúlveda
Madre del Libanese • Valentina Pernozzoli
Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
The Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, located in Florence, Italy, is one of the most renowned opera houses in the world. Founded in 1933, the theater has a long and illustrious history of presenting some of the finest operatic performances, attracting audiences from all over the world. The theater has undergone several renovations and upgrades over the years, including a major overhaul in the 1990s, which saw the addition of state-of-the-art technical equipment and improved seating arrangements. Today, the Teatro del Maggio is a modern, world-class facility that offers audiences an unparalleled opera experience.
Booking Process
Music trip to Florence for 3 days / 2 nights with premium tickets for the opera Romanzo Criminale. The highlight of the trip is a visit to the renowned Teatro del Maggio Fiorentino on the second evening to experience a spectacular performance with international stars. You can choose between the Essential and Superior Package.
Each travel package will be composed according to your wishes.
Follow the booking process:
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World premiere of Nicola Piovani’s opera Romanzo criminale at Teatro del Maggio, Florence (23–31 Oct 2026). A gripping saga of crime and power.
World premiere of Nicola Piovani’s opera Romanzo criminale at Teatro del Maggio, Florence (23–31 Oct 2026). A gripping saga of crime and power.
World premiere of Nicola Piovani’s opera Romanzo criminale at Teatro del Maggio, Florence (23–31 Oct 2026). A gripping saga of crime and power.
World premiere of Nicola Piovani’s opera Romanzo criminale at Teatro del Maggio, Florence (23–31 Oct 2026). A gripping saga of crime and power.
In Florence at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
