There are evenings when everything falls into place. When the lights, the music, the movements, and the emotions meet in perfect harmony — leaving a lasting imprint on your soul. That’s exactly what happened to me this summer in Fiesole, a hilltop town just above Florence, in the heart of Tuscany.
There, in the ancient Roman Theater of Fiesole — where performances have been held for over two thousand years — history and art came together in the most breathtaking way. Sitting on the same stones where Roman citizens once gathered, I felt the past whisper through every step. And when night fell, it was as if time itself bowed to the stage.
Each year, the Estate Fiesolana (Fiesole Summer Festival) stands out as one of Florence’s most beloved cultural events. But this year, for me, it became something unforgettable. Within the semicircular arena of the Fiesole Roman Theater, with seating for over 3,000 spectators and a spectacular view over the Tuscan valley, the Lyric Dance Company brought to life a performance I’ll carry with me for a long time:
MADAME – A Tribute to Maria Callas.
The piece was imagined, choreographed, and directed by Alberto Canestro, the company’s artistic director — who to me is more than an artist. He is a mentor to my daughter in classical ballet, a dear friend, and a soul who lives and breathes art. Our story began during a simple walk with our dogs, and now I found myself watching him bring the legend of Maria Callas to life on stage, moved beyond words.
This wasn’t just a dance performance.
It was a confession, a celebration, a deeply emotional homage to a woman whose voice and fragile strength shaped an entire era. Callas’ brilliance, her passion and elegance, were translated by Alberto into pure movement — the kind of dance that reaches into your heart and makes you dream.
Maria Callas wasn’t only a singer; she was a myth. Her presence was just as powerful as her voice. She didn’t just perform roles — she became them, opening her soul to her audience.
And that’s exactly what this performance captured.
Alberto’s choreography didn’t merely follow the music — it embodied it. Each movement became the physical echo of her most famous arias: the pain, the longing, the triumph, and the fall. The emotional intensity of the piece was further elevated by the exquisite costumes, designed by Alberto Canestro and Barbara Loli, and the poetic play of light and shadow across the stage.
Special thanks must go to Pierfrancesco Nannoni, composer and musician, whose live piano performance added a truly unforgettable dimension to the evening. His music didn’t just accompany the dancers — it spoke with them. It carried the rhythm of emotion, weaving itself into every breath and every pause. It was the soul of the performance.
MADAME did more than narrate Maria Callas’ career — it revealed her aura, her charisma, the force that still inspires generations. Blending contemporary and neoclassical dance, the performance portrayed a woman both extraordinary and vulnerable, a legend who conquered the world with her voice and her unmatched grace.
And then came the finale.
Alberto Canestro stepped on stage like a true diva.
He didn’t just conclude a performance — he embodied the very essence of theater.
His presence was electric. Raw, authentic, and impossibly powerful.
It was the kind of artistic force that cannot be taught — only lived.
Sharing the stage with him were dancers we already know by name — my daughter’s teachers, partners, and inspirations. To see them here, in this sacred space, together… it was deeply touching. The performance felt like it wasn’t just telling a story — it was also writing a piece of our future.
That night, Fiesole was more than just a hilltop village near Florence.
It became a home — for art, for human connection, for something inside me that quietly transformed.
🌟 If you’re in Tuscany in the summer, don’t just visit Florence. Look up. Fiesole is waiting — with a Roman theater, a night under the stars, and maybe a piece of your own story.
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