The Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino’s 2024/25 season presents a captivating diptych with Igor Stravinsky’s Mavra and Giacomo Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi — a unique pairing that combines Russian innovation with Italian humor in one evening of unforgettable entertainment. Mavra, Stravinsky’s comic opera from 1922, is a charming one-act inspired by Pushkin’s The Little House in Kolomna. It follows the story of Paraša, who devises a scheme to disguise her lover, Vasilij, as the new maid, “Mavra,” to get him into her family home. Stravinsky’s playful melodies, jazz influences, and Russian folk motifs make Mavra a light-hearted exploration of love and disguise.

Following this is Gianni Schicchi, the comic masterpiece from Puccini’s celebrated Il trittico. This opera, based on a character briefly mentioned in Dante’s Divine Comedy, transports us to Florence, where the cunning Gianni Schicchi outwits a family of greedy relatives to secure a dowry for his daughter, Lauretta. With its lively music, comedic pacing, and famous aria “O mio babbino caro,” Gianni Schicchi perfectly counterbalances Mavra, blending the distinct musical flavors of Italy and Russia. This combination is a perfect invitation to experience the warmth of Tuscany and Florence’s opera traditions.