Puccini recital in Lucca
About an hour of arias and duets for two soloists and piano in a historic room, with a free-cancellation window of 24 hours and a pay-later option.
Why hear it here
Why hear Puccini in Lucca
The composer's own city
Giacomo Puccini was born in Lucca on 22 December 1858, into a family of composers that for more than a century held a virtual monopoly of the city's musical life. Hearing his arias a short walk from where he grew up gives the music a place.
Voices, a piano and a historic room
There is no orchestra and no staging. Two soloists and a pianist perform at close range, so you hear the voices as the composer's singers did in a recital room, with the piano standing in for the orchestra.
A different programme each night
The festival rotates its performers and programmes from one evening to the next, so a second visit is a new concert and not a repeat of the first.
A Puccini programme, aria by aria
What a Puccini programme is made of
Five of Puccini's operas supply arias that many listeners know. The festival sets each evening's programme, so read this as a map of the repertoire.
No single aria is promised for a given night; the programme changes from evening to evening.
- La bohème1896
A poet and a seamstress meet
Rodolfo's Che gelida manina, Mimì's Sì, mi chiamano Mimì and their duet O soave fanciulla. The opera premiered in Turin on 1 February 1896.
- Tosca1900
One showpiece for each lead voice
Tosca's Vissi d'arte in Act 2 and Cavaradossi's E lucevan le stelle in Act 3, from an opera first staged in Rome on 14 January 1900.
- Madama Butterfly1904
An aria of hope
Cio-Cio-San's Un bel dì, vedremo, from the opera that failed at La Scala on 17 February 1904 and succeeded in its revised form in Brescia.
- Gianni Schicchi1918
A daughter pleads with her father
Lauretta's O mio babbino caro, a short soprano aria from Puccini's comic one-act opera, first performed in New York on 14 December 1918.
- Turandot1926
A prince sings alone at night
Calaf's Nessun dorma, a tenor aria from Puccini's last opera, which he left unfinished and which premiered at La Scala on 25 April 1926.
Two rooms, by season
Two historic rooms, one concert
The recital moves with the season. Your confirmation names the room for your date.
The church in the warmer months
The Church of San Giovanni is a Romanesque church of the second half of the 12th century, built over an older basilica and Roman remains. Chairs are set in rows along the nave.
The oratory in the cooler months
The Oratorio di San Giuseppe is a 16th-century oratory that belongs to the cathedral museum, a short walk from the church.
In the cathedral quarter
Both rooms belong to the museum and archaeological complex of the cathedral, at Piazza San Giovanni and Piazza San Martino in the old centre.
Look at your confirmation
The booking calendar and your confirmation name the venue for your date, so rely on them over any earlier plan.
Photographs
The room and the city
The nave set for a concert, the organ loft above the seats, the painted apse, the church front, the tree-lined walls and the statue of Puccini on Piazza Cittadella.
Where to hear Puccini
Three ways to meet Puccini near Lucca
| Option | What you get | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Puccini recital in Lucca | About an hour of arias and duets for two soloists and piano in a historic room, with a free-cancellation window of 24 hours and a pay-later option. | Anyone who wants Puccini's music in his birthplace on an evening they can plan. |
| Puccini Festival at Torre del Lago | Staged operas in an open-air theatre in July and August, in the village where Puccini built his villa. Dates and productions change each season. | Opera lovers who want a full production and are travelling in summer. |
| Puccini Museum, Casa Natale | The apartment where he was born, furnished with pieces that belonged to his family. It is a museum visit, not a concert. | Anyone who wants the biography by day. |
Book the Puccini recital
Book the recital
Open the card to see which evenings are on sale. A rail beneath it shows more bookable activities around Lucca.
More to book around Lucca
Before you go
Plan your evening
Where to find it
The venue depends on the season: the Church of San Giovanni in the warmer months, the Oratorio di San Giuseppe in the cooler months. Both lie in the cathedral quarter of the old centre. Your confirmation names the room.
Getting to Lucca
The railway station is in Piazza Ricasoli, just outside the walls, with connections from Pisa and Florence Santa Maria Novella. Check timetables with the railway operator close to your trip.
Seats and children
In the church, seats are chairs in rows. The church keeps seats at the rear for children and dogs so that they do not disturb the audience or the performers.
Photographs
Photographs and video are allowed only if you do not disturb the audience or the performers, with no flash and no moving around the venue.
What to wear
There is no dress code. On warm evenings the stone building can feel close, so light clothes and a small fan help; in the cooler months bring a layer.
Step-free access
Step-free access is listed on the GetYourGuide page for this recital. For route and seating details, contact the festival through its own site before you travel.
Guides to the music, the rooms and the town
Guides to the music, the rooms and the town
Which ticket, and how to book
Puccini concert in Lucca: how to book
How to book a Puccini recital in Lucca: what the hour contains, how the venue changes with the season, and who the evening suits.
Read the guide → Venue, seats and getting thereWhere the Puccini concert is held in Lucca
Where the Puccini recital is held in Lucca: the church and the oratory, how to reach them, what to expect from the seats and what to wear.
Read the guide → The composer behind the concert
Puccini in Lucca: birthplace and boyhood
Read the guide → What you may hearPuccini's best-known arias for first-timers
Read the guide → The warmer-months venueSan Giovanni church in Lucca and its ruins
Read the guide → Beyond LuccaTorre del Lago: Puccini's villa and festival
Read the guide →FAQ
Questions before you book
How long is the Puccini recital in Lucca?
About an hour. Each date in the booking calendar shows its own start time, so you can place dinner before or after.
Where is the recital held?
In the Church of San Giovanni in the warmer months and the Oratorio di San Giuseppe in the cooler months, both in Lucca's old centre. Your confirmation names the venue for your date.
Who performs?
Two professional soloists, usually a soprano and a tenor, with a pianist. The festival changes performers and programmes from one evening to the next.
Do I need to know opera or Italian?
No. The concerts suit listeners from beginners to experts. Puccini's arias are sung in Italian, and the guide to Puccini's best-known arias on this site gives the stories.
Can I take photographs?
Only if you do not disturb the audience or the performers: no flash and no moving around the venue.
Can I bring a child?
Yes. The church keeps seats at the rear for children and dogs so that they do not disturb the audience or the performers.
Can I cancel?
Yes, up to 24 hours before the start, with a full refund. Reserving now and paying later is also possible.
Is food or drink included, and is there a dress code?
Neither food nor drink comes with the ticket. Nobody enforces a dress code, so wear whatever suits the season.
About an hour of Puccini arias and duets in the city where he was born, free to cancel up to 24 hours ahead.
Reserve a seat for the recital ↗The price is for one adult, shown in dollars here and converted to your own currency on the booking page.