This was yet another of those delightful evening performances inspired by Andrea Colombini at the Chiesa Santa Maria dei Servi in the heart of Lucca. Like many of the beautiful churches in Lucca Chiesa dei Servi, built nearly one thousand years ago, provides a wonderful setting both visually and acoustically.  

Previous such performances have included A Night of the Proms where Professor Colombini gave a wonderful mini version of the ‘last night’ of the Proms season held annually at London’s Albert Hall, a great British tradition. Many of the favourites such as Land of Hope and Glory and Jerusalem were played with great skill, interpretation and pomp which delighted both the Brits and the Italians in the audience due in part to conductor Colombini’s great knowledge and understanding of British taste and sensibility.

Tonight’s performance was sung by four local tenors, all regular singers with the Puccini e la Sua Lucca concerts held daily in Lucca and the Lucca Philharmonic Orchestra. Entrance was free, although reserving a seat is desirable on these occasions as they are very popular with the locals as well as those tourists lucky enough to be in town! Naturally all but two pieces of music were by Italian composers, in particular Puccini, with the second part of the evening starting with two compositions by Wagner. Difficult as it was to choose a favourite, Mascagni’s Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana always strikes a particular personal and emotional feeling for me and was played beautifully.

Not surprisingly, there were two encores and Puccini’s Nessun Dorma just had to be the finale which created a standing ovation from a ‘full house’. Congratulations to all concerned and we look forward to the next time.